Prosthesis alters the size and shape of a woman’s breasts

By admin, August 18, 2009 7:03 pm

Breast Implantation is the prosthesis which alters the size and shape of a woman’s breast.

** Before considering a breat implant, get a picture of the breasts.

** Compare the picture taken with ideal breasts picture to differentiate the normal from the abnormal size.

** Sports bra available in various materials can be tried out in front the mirror and so a suitable size is got.

** The selected bra size can be accounted and the size for implantation should be a little bigger to compensate with the clothing.

** Thus the result obtained after surgery might be effective.

** Consulting a Plastic surgeon before confirming the size is advisable.

** The size varies as per the manufacturer, hence checkout with the piece before processing.

“Gummy bear” gel breast implants

By admin, June 18, 2009 3:13 pm

The so-called “gummy bear” implants are more cohesive silicone gel-filled breast implants made of a firmer silicone gel filler to help maintain the shape of the implant. At this time, these breast implants are available only through clinical studies being conducted by Mentor and Allergan (formerly Inamed).

Source: http://www.fda.gov/

Important factors to consider when deciding getting breast implants

Some important factors to consider include:

  • Breast implants do not last forever. If you decide to get breast implants, you will likely need additional surgeries on your breasts over your lifetime due to complications or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes.
  • Many of the changes to your breasts following implantation cannot be undone. If you later choose to have your implants removed and not replaced, your breasts will not change back to the way they looked before your implant surgery. You may have permanent dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes.
  • When you have your implants replaced (revision), your risk of complications increases compared to your first (primary) surgery.
  • Routine mammograms to screen for breast cancer will be more difficult with breast implants.
  • Breast implants may affect your ability to breast feed, either by reducing or eliminating milk production.

Factors to consider specifically about silicone gel-filled breast implants include:

  • If your silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, you may have no symptoms. This is called a silent rupture because, most of the time, neither you nor your doctor will know that your implant has ruptured.
  • The best way to determine whether or not your silicone gel-filled implant has ruptured is with an MRI examination. You should have your first MRI three years after your implant surgery and every two years thereafter.
  • Over your lifetime, the cost of MRI screening may exceed the cost of your initial surgery. This cost may not be covered by medical insurance.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm063719.htm#1

Will the platinum in silicone breast implants harm me?

Platinum is a metal used in the manufacture of the shell and gel components of silicone breast implants. FDA fully evaluated the scientific literature on platinum. Based on the existing literature, FDA believes that the platinum contained in the implant shell and gel is in the zero oxidation state, which poses the lowest health risk. This is further supported by the available biocompatibility testing, gel bleed testing, and clinical data on these implants.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm063719.htm#1

Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants

By megdilts, June 3, 2009 4:49 pm

The three types of silicone gel-filled breast implants are as follows:

  • One type is a single lumen implant that is prefilled by the manufacturer with a fixed volume of silicone gel.
  • A second type is a double lumen implant with (1) an inner lumen prefilled by the manufacturer with a fixed volume of silicone gel and (2) an outer lumen that is filled during the operation with a fixed volume of saline through a valve.
  • A third type is a double lumen implant with (1) an outer lumen prefilled by the manufacturer with a fixed volume of silicone gel and (2) an inner lumen that is filled during the operation with saline through a valve. This type of implant allows for adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.

A silicone gel-filled breast implant has a silicone rubber shell with the same general composition as shown in the Saline-Filled Breast Implant.

The filler is silicone gel that has the general composition of:

  • silicone oil
  • cured polymeric (large) silicones
  • small amounts of uncured large and smaller silicones
  • minute amounts (parts per million) of metals, including a metal catalyst (usually platinum). (A catalyst is something that causes a change in material.)
Alternative Breast Implants

An alternative breast implant typically has a silicone rubber shell with a filler other than saline or silicone gel. The filler material may or may not be a gel. An alternative breast implant may also have an alternative shell other than one made from silicone rubber.

Source: FDA

Saline-Filled Breast Implants

The three types of saline-filled breast implants are as follows:

  • One type is a single lumen implant that is filled during the operation with a fixed volume of saline through a valve. There are no adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.
  • A second type is a single lumen implant that is filled during the operation with saline through a valve. This type of implant allows for adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.
  • A third type is a single lumen implant that is prefilled by the manufacturer with a fixed volume of saline. There are no valves for filling during the operation or for adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.

The silicone rubber shell for a saline-filled breast implant has the following general composition:

  • cured polymeric (large) silicones
  • approximately 20% of finely powdered silica that is tightly bound to the silicone polymers
  • small amounts of smaller silicones
  • minute amounts (parts per million) of metals, including a metal catalyst (usually tin, zinc, or platinum) (A catalyst is something that causes a change in material.)
  • traces of readily evaporating materials (volatiles), such as xylene and other organic compounds.

The filler is sterile saline that should conform to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards for Normal Physiological Saline (injection grade).

Source: FDA

Breast Implants Device Description

Breast implants may vary in shell surface (smooth versus textured), shape (round or shaped), profile (how far it sticks out), volume (size), and shell thickness. The primary parts of most breast implants are a shell (otherwise known as the envelope or lumen), a filler, and a patch to cover the manufacturing hole.

With respect to the shell design, while most breast implants are single lumen (just the shell), some breast implants are double lumen (one shell inside another shell). With respect to the filler, some breast implants are manufactured with a fixed volume of filler, some are filled during the operation, and some allow for adjustments of the filler volume after the operation.

It should be noted that tissue expanders, which are silicone shells filled with saline, are regulated by FDA in a different way than breast implants. This is because tissue expanders are intended for general tissue expansion for a maximum of 6 months, after which, they are to be removed. Because of this, the design specifications (e.g., thinner shell) and preclinical testing recommendations are different for tissue expanders than for breast implants. Tissue expanders are not to be confused with the third type of double lumen silicone gel-filled breast implants described in the Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants section below. The third type of double lumen silicone gel-filled breast implant is a permanent implant (not intended to be removed) that allows for limited tissue expansion but is regulated by FDA as a breast implant.

Source: FDA

How will I know if my breast implant has ruptured?

By megdilts, May 16, 2009 9:22 pm

If your saline-filled breast implant ruptures, you or your doctor will be able to tell. When saline-filled breast implants rupture, they deflate and the saline solution leaks into your body immediately or over a period of days. You will notice that your implant loses its original size or shape.

If your silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, it is likely that neither you nor your doctor will know. This is known as a silent rupture. This is why MRI is recommended at three years after implantation and then every two years thereafter to screen for rupture. However, sometimes there are symptoms. These symptoms include hard knots or lumps surrounding the implant or in the armpit, change or loss of size or shape of the breast or implant, pain, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, or hardening of the breast.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/

Technorati Profile

Breast implants rupture

We do not know all of the causes of breast implant rupture. We do know that breast implants can rupture from:

  • damage during implantation or during other surgical procedures
  • folding or wrinkling of the implant shell
  • trauma or other excessive force to the chest
  • compression of the breast during mammography.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/

How long do breast implants last?

Breast implants do not last forever. If you decide to get breast implants, you will likely need additional surgeries on your breasts over your lifetime due to rupture, other complications (for example, capsular contracture, breast pain), or unacceptable cosmetic outcomes (for example, asymmetry, unsatisfactory style/size, wrinkling/rippling).

Source: http://www.fda.gov/

Panorama theme by Themocracy