Will you be happier with silicone implants?
Melodie Petersen, RNFor women who have undergone a single or double mastectomy plastic surgery is often a very real possibility. I firmly believe that what you (and only you) decide to do with your body your decision. I have known plenty of strong and beautiful women who have decided not to augment postmastectomy but I have known just as many strong and beautiful women who decide to augment.
But today’s post isn’t about that choice (although we can talk about that if you want). Today’s post is about a Nov.8, 2010 study. The American Cancer Society’s peer-reviewed journal CANCER published a study finding that women who opt for silicone implants postmastectomy are more satisfied than women who opt for saline.
672 women were followed and 472 chose to participate in the post-operation questionnaire. 176 women opted for silicone implants and 306 women opted for saline implants. According to the abstract, those women who chose silicone implants reported higher satisfaction than those who chose saline.
However, the results are not necessarily cut and dry. The study also reveals that, of the women surveyed, regardless of silicone or saline choice, receiving radiation therapy post-mastectomy had a negative effect on satisfaction and satisfaction in all women surveyed diminished over time. The leader of the team that surveyed the women, Dr. Colleen McCarthy, M.D., of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City is quoted:
“We now know that women who elect to proceed with the placement of a silicone implant report higher satisfaction with their reconstructed breasts than those who choose saline implants,” said Dr. McCarthy. “It also appears that patient satisfaction with postmastectomy implant-based reconstruction is generally high and that individual treatment variables—such as implant type—explain only a relatively small amount of the variance. Patient counseling should reflect these realities in order to reassure patients that high satisfaction may be obtained with both saline and silicone implants.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a wealth of information about the “physical health” behind implants. As for your personal decision, well that’s where we come in. You cannot gauge your decision on a study involving just 472 women. What you can do is use it to help trigger some questions that you can ask your doctor, especially your surgeon.
Reader Comments (5)
Having had a BMX (bilateral mastectomy) and currently going through breast reconstruction with TEs (tissue expanders) and upcoming exchange surgery (exchanging the TEs for the implants), my PS (plastic surgeon) said he prefers silicone due to their softness and probably knowing the satisfaction from his patients. The only drawback to silicone is the every two year MRI to detect any leakage - which is actually okay, because, since we can't have mammograms, an MRI is about the only way to detect whether there are any 'wandering' cells around the removed tissue from the BMX still lingering and causing problems. Silicone doesn't allow for the many variations in size/shape that saline offer, but they do have new "gummies" that have more a drop shape to them and have a thicker consistency which may alleviate leakage in the event of a hole or tear. The future will hold more possibilities. It's been quite a journey!
I had double mastectomy for DCIS February 2009 with tissue expanders and silicone implant placement last Summer. My only complaint is that no one told me that without any breast tissue left the implants would fit flatly on the chest wall. I didn't have enough fat cells for microsurgery to create the mound. There is no projection of "tear drop" shape to the current FDA approved implants in Washington State. I understand people who can afford it can go to other states and have the "Gummi Bear" or anatomically correct cohesive gel implants put in.
So, to make a long story shorter - I wear silicone breast prosthesis every day on top of my surgically implanted silicone implants just so I can wear a bra and have the natural breast shape again. I was extremely disappointed with this outcome and pray that the FDA approves the currently studied implants. As I will be asking for those so I don't have to have prosthesis and implants to get a shape that I can live with.
Thanks for sharing your insights and experience. I will bring this up with my PS at my next "fill" appointment. He seemed to indicate that the implant would be tight and firm depending on how much I can tolerate having the TEs expanded (overfilling them). If saline will provide a better outcome, I may choose the saline over the silicone. It's definately a hard decision because no one can show you how you will look post exchange surgery!
I forgot to mention that my surgery was done at the U of W. I had tissue expanders as well to prepare for the silicone implants implantation and TE removal. I won't move forward with any nipple reconstruction until the implants are done to my satisfaction. I wish you the best of everything in your recovery. I can say even though the outcome isn't perfect I am alive and survived this second form of cancer.
I had a mastectomy in March and had tissue expanders to prepare for DEIP reconstruction after radiation. Is anyone else taking that route? They will use my own tissue to reconstruct. This is all being done at the U of W and I have had very good care.