Saline breast implants

Saline implants Those are breast implants used by breast tissue augmentation. The agent that fills the content of the implant is a physiological saline.

Physiological saline: In medicine it is often used as infusion solution, surgeons use it to add the volume of circulation blood or it serves as dissolution agent for drugs applied by infusions. It s usage is broader though. It is very common in traumatology by wound treatment, the wounds are washed or rinsed. We also use this solution in laboratories. What does it consist of? Saline is a 0,9% solution of sodium Chloride (NaCl) or also kitchen salt. It is an isotonic solution i.e. of the same osmotic pressure as blood serum. It does not cause water transport to the cell and not even from the cell and therefore it is very well accepted by surrounding cells.

American and European school of plastic surgery still argue about advantages and disadvantages of silicone implants. Surgeons from Europe and South America prefer rather silicones. Saline implants are rarely used in Europe. Only roughly in 5% of cases. In USA plastic surgeons have broad experience with saline-filled implants and they use them in more than 90%.

History of development

Plastic surgery as a very dynamically developing specialty has noticed great progress also in the specialty of implantology. The development in the area of saline implants has concerned mainly improvement of covers and the shape of implants has developed greatly as well. At present a silicone cover is most often used but we can still meet with polyurethane cover. The cover had at the beginning small protrusions to eliminate possible rotation. This type failed because it caused often complications with scars. Around the eighties a contour cover appeared that resembled velvet. It is used with advantage until now. The development of shape was from classic round implants with typical hilly shape to so-called anatomic implants. They resemble teardrops with its shape. With progress there have been revealed some imperfections that have been during the next years a topic for improvement. However, the saline filler itself has never changed since the beginning of saline-filled implants.

Types of implants

Basic types

1) Pre-filled implant – we can imagine it as a cover that defines the shape and content in advance. The implants are placed already as ready filler.
2) Implant with outer filling – The filer has a flap through which a saline is filled after its insertion on the right place. A great advantage is a small scar through which this type of is implanted. On contrary, the disadvantage of this implant is spontaneous saline leakage through the flap.

Types by shape

1)Round saline implants - resembling hills by their shape. The back area is flat and the front is round. The saline is spread symmetrically in the whole implant. By this type we can choose between smooth cover or textured cover. The roughness serves for better adhesion with surrounding tissue and therefore it eliminates undesired rotations. By round implants rotation inside the surgical pocket doesn’t cause any problems and doesn’t influence the final aesthetic effect. The textured cover have been also developed as a prevention to contractures, which represents one of the undesirable complications after breast augmentation. By usage of round implants the surgeon has broad choice of implant covers, size and he/she can also choose placement of the implant. The implant can be placed under the muscle as well as under the mammary gland. There are also more surgical approaches that can be used in case of round implants than in case of anatomic implants. The disadvantage is loss of natural look in by aging process or in case of change of tissue above the implant (sudden weight loss). There has always been discussion among the professionals about the natural look of these implants. According to last articles and researches round implant gets into same position as anatomic implant when getting to vertical position. This hypothesis has been confirmed also with the help of magnetic resonance.
2) Teardrop saline implants – This type of implants has been for the first time used by reconstruction surgery. For patients after breast removal it represented perfect innovation that brought natural appearance. For its natural look this implant has begun to be used also within aesthetic surgery. The implants are in shape if teardrop, when the biggest amount of liquid is in the lower part. Still it has been number one for patients after breast removal but it has been recommended also to very skinny women that have not enough own tissue that would sufficiently shape above the implant. Other patients for the use of teardrop implants are women that ask for larger volume augmentation. Anatomic implants are produced only with velvet surface mainly because of elimination of undesired rotations that could damage the aesthetic impression. Teardrop implants are produced with three differently rough surfaces. Cost of these implants is higher than the round implants. The difference is in tens of thousand crowns. Placement of these implants is more difficult than the implantation of round implants. It needs a surgeon with enough experience of round implants placement into the pocket. The pocket for teardrop implant should be precise so that the filler won’t move too much.

By surface

1) Textured saline implants - The implant cover is more rough and resembles velvet. It has been invented mainly because of capsular complications that were frequent after breast augmentation with smooth cover. By this complication the breast is firm and fixed. It usually happens during the first months after the surgery. Pathophysiologically it is a reaction of tissue on the implant’s surface. Some specialists say that the filler of textured cover is worse to move and looks unnatural by moves.
2) Smooth surface – This type of implants looks very natural. The smooth filler sticks much less to the surrounding tissue and therefore it looks more natural when moving. Some surgeons according to their experiences also state that the breasts are more natural even when touching, especially when the implant is placed closer to the surface. The disadvantage s higher percentage of capsular complications.

Profile

By choosing the suitable implant the surgeon evaluates mainly three parameters:

1) shape
2) volume
3) profile

If he/she chooses the right implant that meets his/her images, he/she decides according to the offer on the market and own experience with the implant surface and implantation method.

What can we imagine by implant profile? It is the relation of base and height of round area.

Some producers offer even implants as moderate plus or high plus or extra.

Saline breast implants

Information about saline implants & difference from silicone implants