Which breast implants offer long-term safe and sustainable results?

"Which breast implants offer long-term safe and sustainable results?"
mybody.de, January 2014

Breast augmentation - On the quality of breast implants

Breast augmentation with silicone implants is one of the most popular plastic and aesthetic procedures in Germany. Since the scandal surrounding inferior silicone implants from France at the end of 2011 (PIP scandal), patients' awareness of quality has grown significantly. myBody© asked expert Dr Michaela Montanari about the characteristics of safe and high-quality breast implants.

myBody: Dr Montanari, first of all, as an experienced doctor, have you noticed a change in the "consumer awareness" of your patients since the PIP scandal?

Dr Montanari: I can indeed confirm that. The change is noticeable in that my patients have become much more attentive on average when it comes to choosing breast implants.

myBody: How does the increased attention from your patients affect you in your role as counsellor and educator?

Dr Montanari: Basically, I am increasingly confronted with questions about the origin, quality and safety of the implants I work with. I can only welcome this increased sensitivity! Experience has shown that an informed patient is a satisfied patient, both after the consultation and after the treatment.

myBody: Which important aspects play the biggest role for you as a treating physician when selecting an implant?

Dr Montanari: My most important reasons for or against choosing a breast implant are based on two decisive implant characteristics: quality and safety. I therefore only use implants that have been extensively tested for safety and resilience before they come onto the market, e.g. from a German manufacturer. This is the only way I can operate on my patients with a clear conscience and offer them a permanently safe solution.

myBody: Can undesirable reactions generally occur during a procedure with implants? And what do these look like?

Dr Montanari: Breast augmentation usually proceeds without any major complications. In rare cases, implant displacement, also known as rotation, occurs. Implants can shift along the longitudinal or transverse axis, resulting in an asymmetrical appearance. Capsular fibrosis is also a possible complication. During the natural healing process, a connective tissue capsule can form around the implant. This capsule usually remains soft. However, if it thickens or hardens, this can lead to pain, displacement of the implant or deformation of the breast.

myBody: Can't such complications be avoided?

Dr Montanari: Complications can never be completely ruled out. However, the choice of implant plays a decisive role in good prevention. The use of modern, high-quality implants with a textured (roughened) surface or Microthane® coating means that the complications mentioned can generally be avoided today.

myBody: Even today, some still fear that the breast cushion will "bleed out". Is there a risk of the current generation of implants leaking?

Dr Montanari: The risk is very low as they are filled with a special, non-liquid silicone gel. The gel is so densely cross-linked that it does not leak, even if the implant is cut. However, no doctor or manufacturer can guarantee complete freedom from complications. This is because how a woman's body reacts to the foreign body implant depends on many different and individual factors that cannot be influenced by either the treating doctor or the manufacturer.

myBody: What about the durability of modern silicone implants?

Dr Montanari: High-quality modern implants that are filled with silicone gel approved for long-term implantation can theoretically remain in a woman's body for a lifetime. Therefore, the selection of a suitable and high-quality implant also plays a decisive role in this case.

myBody: And what about breast cancer screening? Can a thorough examination also be guaranteed with silicone implants?

Dr Montanari: As silicone implants are placed underneath the breast tissue or even the breast muscle, regular screening and therefore early detection of cancer is still possible.

myBody: Thank you very much for the informative interview, Dr Montanari!

Source: mybody.de, January 2014