Introduction
Silicone implants are a hot subject. Many women desire a change of their personal appearance. Before making a decision of breast implants, patients need to know all the details about this type of intervention. Does it involve any risks for your health? What is the age that is suitable for this intervention? What do I need to do if I want to remove the silicone implants? These are just a few of the questions related to breast implants, but probably the most important one is about the relation between the breast implants and cancer.
Considering modern medical technology, we have five different generations of mammary implants, each being defined by a specific production technique. The modern mammary implant was invented in 1961 by the plastic surgeons Thomas Cronin and Frank Gerow, and were produced by the Dow Corning Corporation company. The first breast augmentation procedure with breast implants was performed in 1962. This means that doctors have over 50 years of experience with these implants and observing how they present in different conditions.
What is the silicone gel used for the breast implants?
The substance used to fill the mammary implant, the silicone gel, is actually extracted from the sand of the sea. It can be found in different shapes, such as a gelatinous substance with different solidifications degrees, and a solid substance.
The main advantage of the silicone and the discrete nature of the silicone gel used for the breast implants is that it can be made to look extremely natural. The silicone implant can have a texture quite similar to a real breast.
At the same time, the silicone implant is used for other types of esthetic or reconstruction procedures, such as the chin implant or the cheek implant.
Another advantage of the silicone compared to other materials is its duration over time and the resistance to traumas.
What are the risks of the silicone implants for women’s health?
Statistics show that annually, approximately 750.000 women go through a breast augmentation intervention with silicone implants. Hundreds of researchers show that there is no connection between the medical side effects and silicone. The substance used in implants doesn’t contain poisonous elements and does not lead to allergic reactions.
Can the silicone implant cause cancer?
After many years of worldwide research, it has been proven that the silicone implants do not cause cancer. In modern medicine, we use many products made out of silicone, such as those for heart interventions and urologic interventions.
Another positive statistic is that these implants have been through an incredible amount of tests and have been proven to be extremely resistant. For example, the silicone implants have been tested during flights and scuba diving.
Not only does silicone not cause cance,r but women with silicone implants have a better chance to survive if they develop breast cancer. The reason behind this is pretty simple. These women tend to pay close attention to their breasts and are advised by the doctor to report any changes in shape, feel, or texture of the breasts. Feeling the breasts after the silicone implants surgery can be done more efficiently, as the implant better fills the space. Hence, any nodules are easier to discover.
It is recommended that patients come back each year for a control and a breast echography. This way, any mammary nodule can be spotted and treated early. Therefore, the chances of healing and survival are exponentially increased.
Can the breast implant prevent getting a clear mammography result?
One risk that should retain your attention is the one related to the accuracy of the mammography results after the breast implant surgery. You can still take all these tests, the mammography, ultrasounds, and MRI. However, due to the silicone breast implants, the results of the analysis might be more difficult to decipher.
Silicone breast implants are a practical and efficient breast reconstruction method. They can treat problems caused by several factors, including congenital defects. Beyond this, implants are an important help in getting the sexy curves we all been dream about.
Regarding the correlation in between the silicone implants and breast cancer, recent studies have shown the real benefits that the breast implants can have when fighting cancer. Due to the fiber capsule that forms around the implant (and where we can find impressive quantities of antibodies), the mammary gland seems to be somehow protected by the occurrence of the malignancy. Aside from the improvement in the visual aspect of the body, the breast implants can help maintain good health.
Conclusion
The topic of breast cancer and silicone implants is quite an intriguing one. In the more than 50 years since we are performing the breast augmentation with implants intervention, research shows us a lot.
It is important to know that the breast implants can cast a shadow on about 20% of the tissue of the mammary gland and can affect the results of mammography. There are other methods to control the health of our breasts, such as ultrasounds and the MRI.
Silicone implants do not cause cancer. The substance used to fill the implants is completely harmless, and doesn’t trigger any allergies. While there are complications associated with the breast augmentation procedure with breast implants, the complication are not fatal and can be treated with medication or a revision surgery.
Nowadays, more women consider the breast implant surgery over other types of breast enhancement procedure, as it offers impressive results with fewer risks.