Breast Implant Options in Miami, Florida

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of silicone gel breast implants means Miami women now have a greater choice of breast implants: silicone gel or saline. With increased options there is an even better chance of designing the breast augmentation procedure that will deliver the result that's just right for you. It also means there's more to consider when making decisions.

Dr. Ellenby encourages you to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of silicone gel and saline implants. And he invites you to schedule a Courtesy Consultation with him today. He will discuss the advantages of each option with you. He can show you the different implants and give you the opportunity to evaluate them for yourself.

What do I need to know about silicone gel implants?

After further studies, in November, 2006 the FDA approved implants with silicone gel filling for use in all women over the age of 22. Today, we feel confident about the safety of silicone implants. Silicone is a material that's highly compatible with the body, and it's used in other implantable devices such as artificial joints.

Patients who have received silicone implants recently are enthusiastic about them because they offer a very natural look and feel. Today, many women select silicone gel implants expressly for that reason. The filling's consistency also means it holds together and remains within the breast pocket should an implant's shell rupture. Though that's a very positive attribute of the material, the FDA has recommended women have periodic MRI tests to check for such “silent ruptures.”

What do I need to know about saline implants?

The saline filling is very similar to natural body fluids. If a saline implant ruptures, the body absorbs the fluid easily and safely. Since the implant shell “deflates” when this happens, it's easy for women to tell a rupture has occurred. Ruptured implants are replaced fairly easily and inexpensively.

Saline implants are designed to be filled after they're placed inside the breast pocket. This can mean slightly smaller incisions (and scars) than those associated with silicone gel implants. And saline models are designed to allow the filling level to be adjusted, offering additional flexibility for the patient who's unsure how big she wants to be or has breasts that differ in size.

Saline implants occasionally ripple or wrinkle, giving a somewhat unnatural appearance, and a few women report the liquid filling doesn't feel like natural breast tissue. These problems can be improved with implant replacement or revision.

How do I know what's right for me?