New to the boards, I have a question about implants.

mommaellen
mommaellen Member Posts: 195
Hi everyone. I had a mastectomy on the right side in August and currently have expanders. I had my last fill in on Friday and will have my implant surgery after the holidays. My plastic surgeon is suggesting saline and I am thinking about silicone. What is the difference in how they feel? Any input will be appreciated. Thanks, Ellen

Comments

  • Chickadee1955
    Chickadee1955 Member Posts: 355 Member
    Hi Ellen,
    I was told the

    Hi Ellen,

    I was told the silicone implants had a more 'natural' feel. In the past there was some concern about silicone implants leaking silicone into your body when the implants broke down or were compromised, but I was told that was much less a concern nowadays.

    I opted for silicone implants for myself, but its an individual choice. I can't say the 'foobs' are particularly 'natural' in any way. I still have numbness over much of my chest area.

    Hope this helps. Best of luck.

    Chickadee
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944

    Hi Ellen,
    I was told the

    Hi Ellen,

    I was told the silicone implants had a more 'natural' feel. In the past there was some concern about silicone implants leaking silicone into your body when the implants broke down or were compromised, but I was told that was much less a concern nowadays.

    I opted for silicone implants for myself, but its an individual choice. I can't say the 'foobs' are particularly 'natural' in any way. I still have numbness over much of my chest area.

    Hope this helps. Best of luck.

    Chickadee

    Hi Ellen,
    Feb. 2011, I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (tissue expanders). When my exchange surgery came I thought long and hard for months on my decision. He wanted me to do silicone, I chose saline. I did if for peace of mind, and not having to worry about the future dreaded costs of MRI's to keep checking for silicone leakage. A saline one will just deflate and your body will expose of the saline naturally.

    With that said saline implants are known to "dimple" or "wrinkle" more then silicone. I don't have this issue as my plastic surgeon over-inflated my implants thus taking away a lot of the future wrinkle issues. I also had a "skin sparring" mastectomy meaning I got to keep a lot of my skin tissue so my skin is nice and thick and not stretched thin by the expander fills.

    I'm happy with my choice, like I always say... it's bad enough I have to worry about my cancer coming back I don't want to worry about any implant leakage as well. Good luck in your decision, ugh... I remember that agony.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    Welcome Ellen
    I had a right one in 2002, I was going to have silicone, my family was very concerned with all the bad info previously, so I went with saline. I wish I would have had the silicone they do feel so much more normal.

    It is your choice. My plastic surgeon said that it was the the encasement on the silicone of the past that was breaking down and now they use the same casing on so many of the implants. I would certainly talk to the plastic surgeon and find out if that is really the case. I get ruffles when I lay down with mine.

    Best of luck,
    Carol
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    camul said:

    Welcome Ellen
    I had a right one in 2002, I was going to have silicone, my family was very concerned with all the bad info previously, so I went with saline. I wish I would have had the silicone they do feel so much more normal.

    It is your choice. My plastic surgeon said that it was the the encasement on the silicone of the past that was breaking down and now they use the same casing on so many of the implants. I would certainly talk to the plastic surgeon and find out if that is really the case. I get ruffles when I lay down with mine.

    Best of luck,
    Carol

    My thoughts, concerns are the reason why
    I elected 'saline' .. like Miss Lorrie.

    I love, and adore my saline implants -- no dimples, ripples or indents of any type. Mentor is the manufacture of my implants.

    Please discuss you concerns with your PS, also ask if you can speak with several
    of his breast cancer patients who have had saline and silicone. Pictures of women
    with both implants should be available for you to view at PS's (Plastic Surgeon) office.

    It's your body, your choice. Good luck.

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    Mentor MEMORY GEL SILICONE
    Hi Ellen,

    Five days prior to the exchange I kept saying...Saline or Silicone? I went with the PS's suggestion...Mentor Memory Gel Silicone...and very happy that I listened to him. Silicone feels more like a real breast.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    camul said:

    Welcome Ellen
    I had a right one in 2002, I was going to have silicone, my family was very concerned with all the bad info previously, so I went with saline. I wish I would have had the silicone they do feel so much more normal.

    It is your choice. My plastic surgeon said that it was the the encasement on the silicone of the past that was breaking down and now they use the same casing on so many of the implants. I would certainly talk to the plastic surgeon and find out if that is really the case. I get ruffles when I lay down with mine.

    Best of luck,
    Carol

    I had a lumpectomy, but,
    I had a lumpectomy, but, wanted to wish you good luck!


    Hugs, Lex
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member

    Mentor MEMORY GEL SILICONE
    Hi Ellen,

    Five days prior to the exchange I kept saying...Saline or Silicone? I went with the PS's suggestion...Mentor Memory Gel Silicone...and very happy that I listened to him. Silicone feels more like a real breast.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    Just saying hi and welcome
    Just saying hi and welcome to you Ellen!

    Hugs, Leeza
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    jnl said:

    Just saying hi and welcome
    Just saying hi and welcome to you Ellen!

    Hugs, Leeza

    I had a lumpectomy But
    I had a lumpectomy but if I ever need to have a mascectomy it would be saline. Seems more natural.

    Hope I never need to make that decision but it would be what I would choose.WHY because what can happen will happen to me!!!!! I don't take chances.

    Lynn Smith
  • mommaellen
    mommaellen Member Posts: 195

    I had a lumpectomy But
    I had a lumpectomy but if I ever need to have a mascectomy it would be saline. Seems more natural.

    Hope I never need to make that decision but it would be what I would choose.WHY because what can happen will happen to me!!!!! I don't take chances.

    Lynn Smith

    Thanks for the input
    I still have not totally made up my mind yet but I appreciate all the great input I received from you all. My ps appt is on 11-30 to discuss the surgery and its options.
    I will keep you all posted about my decision.

    Hugs.

    Mommaellen
  • Thanks for the input
    I still have not totally made up my mind yet but I appreciate all the great input I received from you all. My ps appt is on 11-30 to discuss the surgery and its options.
    I will keep you all posted about my decision.

    Hugs.

    Mommaellen

    Good Luck
    Thanks for posting thia Ellen, as I am a little behind you and was wondering the same thing..Thinking I am leaning toward silicone though. How many fillings did u have? PS and I are hoping to get me up to a D cup, he said possibly 7 fillings
    We shall see what my body says :)
  • mommaellen
    mommaellen Member Posts: 195

    Good Luck
    Thanks for posting thia Ellen, as I am a little behind you and was wondering the same thing..Thinking I am leaning toward silicone though. How many fillings did u have? PS and I are hoping to get me up to a D cup, he said possibly 7 fillings
    We shall see what my body says :)

    fill ins
    I went thru 5 fill ins of 50 cc's each time and he put in either 150 or 200 cc's on the day of my surgery ( I cant remember). I am a C cup. I am not totally even but he said that I will be after the surgery. I can't wait.

    Welcome to the boards.

    Mommaellen
  • Faith1122
    Faith1122 Member Posts: 46

    fill ins
    I went thru 5 fill ins of 50 cc's each time and he put in either 150 or 200 cc's on the day of my surgery ( I cant remember). I am a C cup. I am not totally even but he said that I will be after the surgery. I can't wait.

    Welcome to the boards.

    Mommaellen

    Silicone
    Hi mommaellen! I had a double mastectomy this year & got the Mentor silicone implants. They cannot leak silicone because they are a solid, like a gummy bear. If it ruptured or broke (not sure how that would happen) there is no liquid in it to leak. They feel somewhat natural. I guess as natural as they can. Good luck!
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991

    Good Luck
    Thanks for posting thia Ellen, as I am a little behind you and was wondering the same thing..Thinking I am leaning toward silicone though. How many fillings did u have? PS and I are hoping to get me up to a D cup, he said possibly 7 fillings
    We shall see what my body says :)

    Just adding with the others,
    Just adding with the others, a big hi and a big welcome to you!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Weirdest story with my implants...
    (Silicone...years ago...)

    A gal asked me "Aren't you concerned about the silicone leaking if someone stabbed you in the chest?"...my response (you can almost see it coming, can't you?...*smile*) "I would have much more to worry about than silicone leakage if someone stabbed me in the CHEST!

    It's such a personal choice. I love the look/feel of my implants, had them for over 20 years...just went to C cup...not too big...they fit my chest frame and body type. They actually saved the spread of my breast cancer...the back 'margin' on my tumor was the capsule my body had formed around the implant...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member

    Thanks for the input
    I still have not totally made up my mind yet but I appreciate all the great input I received from you all. My ps appt is on 11-30 to discuss the surgery and its options.
    I will keep you all posted about my decision.

    Hugs.

    Mommaellen

    Good luck Ellen with your
    Good luck Ellen with your appointment on the 30th. Update us when you can.


    Hugs, Kylez