Not all women are born with an ample bust line, and others find that the breasts lose volume or shape due to various life circumstances. In order to enhance the appearance of the bust line, many women turn to breast augmentation, which improves breast size and shape through the placement of breast implants. Before undergoing breast augmentation, patients must carefully consider the look and feel that they desire for their breasts. There are many decisions to be made regarding surgery, and Dr. Darrell Perkins can help ensure that patients choose the options that are most likely to give them the surgical results they desire. In terms of breast implant type, amongst our Sydney patients, silicone breast implants are a very popular option because of the many advantages they offer. However, in order to make a clear decision on whether silicone implants are right for them, patients should consider both the pros and cons of this type of implant.

Pros of Silicone Implants

First, let’s start off by addressing the safety of silicone breast implants. Many patients are unclear if silicone implants are a safe surgical option. The answer is “yes.” There have been years of studies on the safety of silicone breast implants and none have shown any link between leaking silicone implants and an increased risk for disease. Silicone implants carry no additional surgical risk than saline implants do. Secondly, Dr. Perkins offers his patients silicone cohesive gel implants. The gel in these implants is designed to stay in place if a leak or rupture occurs so that the silicone gel should never leave the breast prosthesis.

Knowing the safety of silicone breast implants, most patients prefer these implants over saline because of their superior look and feel. The consistency of the silicone filling is very similar to that of the natural breast tissue. This makes the breasts look and feel more natural than those that have been augmented with saline implants, which is important to many of our patients.

Cons of Silicone Implants

While silicone implants are safe and naturally attractive, there are a couple of cons for patients to consider. The first of these is the fact that it is more difficult to detect a leak or rupture of a silicone implant than it is with a saline implant. Because the silicone material is meant to remain in place and is not absorbed by the body, a leak is not obvious. For this reason, patients with silicone implants are advised to undergo periodic MRIs to check on the structure of the implant.

Another aspect of silicone implants that some patients consider a con is that these implants are pre-filled. Because of this, a slightly larger incision is required with silicone implants than with saline and the incision site options are more limited. However, Dr. Perkins does his best to hide and minimize the scars of breast augmentation no matter which type of implant is used.

Schedule an Appointment

Dr. Darrell Perkins and his team work hard to give patients the body of their dreams. If you are interested in adding volume to your bust line, schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to learn more about breast augmentation. Dr. Perkins can answer any questions you may have about your surgical options, the procedure, and recovery. We look forward to hearing from you!