breast implants saline or silicone

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sharon_buck
sharon_buck Member Posts: 62
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have the breast expanders in when it is time I need to decide which implant I want. Just want to know if anyone else has had this done? not sure if I should use silicone they say it is safe my husband says go for this one any help I would like to hear.

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  • lauramarie
    lauramarie Member Posts: 39
    #2
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    Hello Sharon
    I didnt have implants but I have survivor friends who have and most of them had the saline implants I think they just felt more comfortable with them. Good Luck with your decision. Laura
  • cindyclay
    cindyclay Member Posts: 6
    #3
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    lauramarie said:

    Hello Sharon
    I didnt have implants but I have survivor friends who have and most of them had the saline implants I think they just felt more comfortable with them. Good Luck with your decision. Laura

    Hi Sharon:
    I had my expanders taken out and saline implants put in in April. My plastic surgeon said he did not like to use the silicone. He felt like saline was safer in case it leaked. I think mine feel and look very natural. Cindy
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
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    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • turkpat
    turkpat Member Posts: 4
    #5
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    I had saline, but would have gone the silicone route had I not had to have radiation. I have read that silicone doesn't do well after radiation. I'm fine with saline, but I think silicone would feel more natural. I have read enough to know that silicone is safe, despite its reputation in the media.
  • genetta44
    genetta44 Member Posts: 1
    #6
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    Dear Sharon, My name is Genetta. I live in Hot Springs, Ar. I had a right mastectomy in Nov. 1990 with immediate reconstruction with silicone implants. I am now ten years out with no problem with the implant. I have an implant made by the McGann corporation. So far so good!!! Good luck with whatever you choose. By the way I also had the tissue expander in first. May GOD bless you as he has me. Sincerely, Genetta
  • lissam
    lissam Member Posts: 4
    #7
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    I had the breast expanders also. They were injected with saline, but when I had to choose, I chose silicon since I had had silicone implants prior to breast cancer. They are much more natural feeling and you don't have that "sloshing" feeling when you move. My doctor eased all of my fears about silicone. The way I looked at it, that was the least of my worries. It did take three times to get the size correct, but the overall result was very pleasing. Good luck!! I am a three-year survior and I know they have made many improvements in the last few years. My friend had reconstruction recently and hers was perfect from the start. She also chose silicone. Take care!
  • scarlettg7
    scarlettg7 Member Posts: 7
    #8
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    lissam said:

    I had the breast expanders also. They were injected with saline, but when I had to choose, I chose silicon since I had had silicone implants prior to breast cancer. They are much more natural feeling and you don't have that "sloshing" feeling when you move. My doctor eased all of my fears about silicone. The way I looked at it, that was the least of my worries. It did take three times to get the size correct, but the overall result was very pleasing. Good luck!! I am a three-year survior and I know they have made many improvements in the last few years. My friend had reconstruction recently and hers was perfect from the start. She also chose silicone. Take care!

    implants
    I am new to the site & was reading your post, when you say it took three times to get the size correct, what exactly did you mean? Did they have to change your implants to get you to a bigger size. I currently still have my tissue expanders in & my plastic surgeon told me I might come out a size B, when before my cancer I was a size C-cup. If I have to wait a year to go bigger then that's what I'll do, just wondering if thats what you were referring to ?
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #9
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    I chose silicone
    I was opting for saline but then four days before surgery I changed my mind and decided on silicone based on my plastic surgeon's recommendation. I love them. They feel natural to the touch. I have Mentor's Memory Gel implants. I feel safe with the silicone.

    Hugs,
    Janelle
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #10
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    implants....
    I have silicone implants... They feel very soft and I have no rippling.. I had chemo and 7 weeks of radiation before implants where exchanged...

    I did a lot of reading on both... prior to making my decision.

    I choose silicone because that is what's most recommended after mastectomy for a "more natural feel"

    even in the 80's when silicone was taken off the market for augmentation... it was never taken off the market for mastectomy patients, because of the more natural appearance you get.


    Its a personal decision,,, advice to read as much as you can on both... speak to your surgeon and have him show you both... When I went they put both under a blanket and told me to feel so you can see the difference of how they will feel under your skin..

    I was also told with saline.. that there is a higher incidence of seeing rippling from the implant, because unlike augmentation.. there is no natural breast tissue

    good luck with what ever you decide
  • geochick
    geochick Member Posts: 18 Member
    #11
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    I chose silicone, and boy do
    I chose silicone, and boy do they feel so much better than the expanders. I had a friend who's saline implants hardened after 5 years and she had to get them removed. I think it's an extreme case, but that did influence me a bit.

    Good luck to you.
  • ms_independent
    ms_independent Member Posts: 214
    #12
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    silicone
    I have silicon. It feel pretty natural. My plastic surgeon was strongly in favor of silicone. And they (medical community) say it did not cause health problems. He also said; if a saline implant leaks you go flat immediately as the body reabsorbs the saline quickly. He said the silicone stays pretty much in the right place, so you are not flat prior to replacing the leaking one. I have to say that also influenced my decision.
  • n01kar
    n01kar Member Posts: 26
    #13
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    ms_independent said:

    silicone
    I have silicon. It feel pretty natural. My plastic surgeon was strongly in favor of silicone. And they (medical community) say it did not cause health problems. He also said; if a saline implant leaks you go flat immediately as the body reabsorbs the saline quickly. He said the silicone stays pretty much in the right place, so you are not flat prior to replacing the leaking one. I have to say that also influenced my decision.

    saline vs silicon
    I am old school, on my 1st mastcomy, i used a saline implant. When the cancer returned to the next breast, i was offered silicon,which i declined. I used saline again. Yes, silicon does feel more natural, but in reality, there is no product that will feel like a natural breast. Saline in my opinion is a safer route to go. If the implant burst, the body will absorb the liquid. Also,take in to consideration that you have to massage the breast to avoid capsulation, which causes the hardness. My 1st implant turned hard.(6 yrs ago). Now i am massaging my new implants as routinely as brushing my teeth. lol
  • Wabbitt
    Wabbitt Member Posts: 18
    #14
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    Silicon vs Saline implants and over or under muscle

    I have expanders in right now and I was orig going to have the DIEP Flap surg done but just sick of major surgery.  I no longer have my nipples so this will be done during my reconstruction.  I need to hear from persons that have had either silicone or saline and if they had nipple replacment and under or over the muscle and any issues.  I see alot of the posts are from years back...anyone with some recent experience.  Thanks Ladies this is so helpful.

  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #15
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    I had silicone implants

    after the expanders and they were placed under the muscle.  I haven't had any issues other than tightness.  I think if I had it to do over again, I would have gotten smaller implants.  In clothes, they appear perfectly natural - no rippling at all.  Unclothed, they look fine but obviously aren't real (looks like I had augmentation).  I had the nipple surgery afterward.  Basically the doctor sewed a circle of my skin in such a way to make it appear like a nipple and then tattoed it pink.  The tattoo faded completely and I have been thinking of getting a realistic tattoo but honestly, I keep finding reasons to put it off.  My plastic surgeon told me that the implants could last up to 20-25 years.  I have had them for over 5 years now.  If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me. 

    Clementine

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