It is interesting in this economy how some patients are thinking about breast implants. The more limited funds available in a down economy might be good for one thing: people are thinking implant surgery through much better on average than in years gone by.

A forum at which I occasionally answer questions reflected this in a question. The poster indicated that the decision of whether or not to place breast implants with her planned breast lift may revolve around the risk of revisions.

I can’t afford to have revisions. If I have to replace implants I should not go for it then.

As we have discussed previously plastic surgery can be performed with the main goal of limiting the need for further surgery. In the case of breast implant surgery, limiting long term risk can be best accomplished by:

(1) Limiting implant size.

(2) Sticking with saline-filled implants which tend to simply rupture as opposed to encouraging scarring and significant capsule formation that requires more involved surgery to treat. Saline implants break and need simple replacement far more often than anything else at least when they are not huge.

(3) The other issue with saline implants is that rupture can be covered to an extent by buying an extended warranty at the time of their original implantation. This specifically covers breast implant rupture. The main problem that occurs with the smaller saline implants is rupture.

It is true that the extended warranty only covers the implants for ten years, but that is more coverage than you can get with silicone breast implants for the problem that is the most common with saline.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD