Breast Implant: Which Breast Implants Are the Safest?

FDA-approved saline and silicone implants are generally safe.  

The Evolution of Implant Safety and Shell Texturing

Within contemporary aesthetic plastic surgery, the determination of which implants are the safest depends heavily on a detailed appreciation of cutting-edge biomaterials and adherence to very strict global regulatory standards. Prioritized for their natural breast-like qualities, cohesive silicone and sterile saline currently remain the two main categories in terms of filler materials available for implants. Both modern versions of silicone and saline implants have already been FDA-approved and are considered very safe; each type carries a different safety mechanism from the perspective of ruptured implant detection and from the perspective of bodily integration level as well.

A major safety development that is widely recognized and adopted these days among plastic surgeons is a preference for the use of implants with a smooth surface. Initially, implants with very high texture were implanted as a strategy against the rotation of implants and capsulation of their surrounding tissue. It was found, however, that such severe texturing could cause an extremely rare immune system anomaly, so-called Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma or, for short, BIA-ALCL. Therefore, if one desires to opt for the ultimate in implant safety from a current technological perspective, one should pick a premium, smooth-surfaced implant which does not pose this immunological risk at all and, at the same time, produces a perfectly natural-looking breast.

Highly Cohesive Silicone (Gummy Bear) Implants

Patients opting for the most natural-looking, soft-to-the-touch, and extremely durable option should pick 5th-generation highly cohesive silicone implants that are known in popular circles as gummy bear implants. These implants are made up of a dense mesh of cross-linked silicone molecules, whereas the older forms were liquid silicone that could spill. If the implant's outer covering is broken, the cohesive gel does not spread everywhere; neither is it absorbed by the surrounding cells nor migrates elsewhere; the gel simply remains at its site in its shape just the way it was. Hence, the implant itself remains intact, so the lymphatic system is safe, no internal damage occurs, and the safety factor is increased a great deal.

However, because the implants do not leak even if the cover cracks, one of the peculiar characteristics of cohesive implants is called silent rupture, in which the changes in the shape of the breast are imperceptible because a ruptured implant is still filled with the cohesive product and does not sag. To be absolutely safe and to maintain the implants for a long time, a medical imaging test, such as a specialized ultrasound or MRI, will be necessary that is regularly performed to check the integrity of an implant.

Structured Saline Implants and Rupture Detection

The most important advantage of saline implants is the assurance of the absolute lack of synthetic gels in the body, thereby offering great psychological security to individuals who primarily define safety in terms of this aspect. These implants have a rigid silicone elastomer shell and are initially empty, saltwater being injected only during the operation. In the extremely improbable case of the shell getting split, the non-toxic saline is quickly absorbed by the neighboring tissues and subsequently passed out by renal organs in a totally untroubled manner. Thus, no physiological damage and no inflammation are to be expected as a result.

Among the advantages of implants filled with saline are that any damage to the implant becomes known at once, since the affected breast will very quickly show signs of loss of volume so the issue can easily be detected. Also, today's innovations in implants with structured saline are such that internal devices are installed which give this type of implant the soft feeling of a silicone implant while retaining the biological safety of pure saltwater and the effortless ruptured implant detection.

Maintaining the Shape of Breasts After the Surgery

Following surgery, for those who want a flawless and safe recovery for their aesthetic surgery investment, they will not only have to take prescribed medication and attend check-ups, but they will also have to adhere very strictly to specific protective measures and behavioral guidelines for the whole post-operative period. It does not matter whether you receive a silicone implant or a saline one; the main concern will be that the surgical pocket where the implant is placed is left to heal in total isolation. There is always a chance of having to remove the scar capsule if something goes wrong with the implant, especially if this biological "seal" is disrupted before the implant has settled properly in its anatomical position in the breast. This can occur through a number of activities such as, but not limited to, jumping around, weightlifting, or any kind of vigorous chest workouts.

Your surgeon will most probably prescribe a very tight, supportive, medical-grade post-surgery bustier which you will wear as a day and night garment throughout the early recovery stage. The sustained mild force of pressure from the support bra that is worn continuously removes pockets of air within the breasts; it also stops the formation of seromas by avoiding collections of body fluids in one place, which can happen if such collections are present for too long, and it lowers the risk of forming a capsular contracture as well.

LIN Europe Clinic

LIN Europe Clinic is the place where you can get all sorts of facial beauty treatments, body shaping procedures, and the like. They offer the best care in every aspect of it and the support is just what you need so that you can choose and understand the safest, most biocompatible implant materials at the beginning of the procedure. A high-level evidence-based medical approach to your care will be implemented, with all the other elements taken care of by the highly trained, skilled, and empathetic staff.  LIN Europe Clinic has a luxurious medical establishment in Turkey, a facility known for having the most advanced breast contouring capabilities and the most comprehensive breast surgery aftercare.

We are proud of our high level of patient compliance that is supported by regular and in-depth diagnostics. Our team makes available only top-of-the-line, smoothly surfaced implants that have received FDA approval, so the implants that you choose should be in perfect harmony with your cosmetic investment. At  LIN Europe Clinic in Istanbul, our expert specialists will carefully oversee each one of your structural metrics throughout the entire process.