One of the key questions new patients often ask Mr Pieri is: are breast implants safe? The short answer is that it is rare to have a breast implant complication that poses a significant general health concern.
There are no guarantees, but most women recover over a few weeks and can enjoy the benefits that their new breast implants have to offer.
To help you feel confident and informed before you make the life-changing decision to choose breast augmentation, here are some of the key facts you need to know.
A Brief History Of Breast Implants
The first recorded instance of breast augmentation was in 1895 when Vincent Czerny replaced breast tissue from a tumour using a fatty lipoma from the woman’s back.
During the 1900s, many surgeons experimented with other ways to enhance women’s breasts, including using ivory or glass balls to add volume.
It wasn’t until 1961 that the first breast implants were created. Plastic surgeons Thomas Cronin and Frank Gerow, with the help of the Dow Corning Corporation, created the first silicone breast implants. These were used in the first procedure the following year, 1982, with great success.
Then, in 1964, French company Laboratories Arion developed the first saline breast implants and started manufacturing them. These two materials remain popular in modern breast augmentation procedures.
Ever since then, there have been new developments in breast implant technology, but the materials have remained the same. Although there have been health scares and recalls of poorly produced breast implants, safeguards are now in place to ensure that only the best materials and procedures are used. New breast implant technology is evolving all the time, with a focus on safety to reduce the chances of implant ruptures, breast pain or other issues.
Are Modern Breast Implants Safe?
Thanks to the ongoing development of breast implant technology, modern breast implants are considered generally safe.
Because of these safety improvements, breast implants have been used more frequently over recent years for purposes beyond aesthetic improvements, including breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery and for gender-reaffirming surgery.
Mr Pieri has used an array of implants from different manufacturers in the past to help him find the best options for his patients. He now mainly uses Motiva Ergonomix and GC Aesthetics implants. These innovative implants use silicone and gel technology to enhance your natural breasts, and Mr Pieri has successfully used them in many procedures.
He is always exploring new options by reviewing the products and techniques he uses to ensure that his patients get the best possible results. With this safety-focused approach, his patients have a lower chance of complications following their breast augmentation procedure.
Types Of Breast Implants
To this day, there are still only two main types of breast implants offered: saline implants and silicone implants. The filling inside is what separates them, and they both give different aesthetic results.
Saline Breast Implants
Saline breast implants are a silicone outer shell that is filled with sterile salt water, also known as saline. The implants can be pre-filled or inserted empty and filled with saline afterwards to create a natural look.
Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone breast implants have a similar silicone shell, but instead of saline, they are filled with flexible silicone gel. Silicone gel-filled implants are always pre-filled, and you can see their size and shape before they are inserted.
Which Is Best?
Both saline and silicone implants have their pros and cons. Many people believe that silicone breast implants give a more natural look. However, saline implants can create a smaller incision, resulting in less scar tissue, if they are inserted empty and filled inside the body.
Both implants can rupture, but saline implants are more likely to do so as they are filled with water rather than the more viscous silicone filling used in gel-filled implants. If silicone breast implants rupture, the water is completely safe, and your breasts will simply look flatter. You will have to have the silicone shell removed, which will mean more surgery.
Silicone implants can also rupture and, if so, require surgical removal with or without replacement, again meaning further surgeries are needed.
While both types of breast implants are approved for use in the UK, silicone breast implants are the most common, and Mr Pieri prefers them due to the more natural end result that he can create with them.
Other Factors To Consider
As well as the material your breast implants are made from, you also need to consider a selection of other factors, including:
- Breast Implant Shape: Breast implants can be round or teardrop in shape. both options come with risks, but almost all anatomical (teardrop) implants are made from a macro-textured surface rather than micro-textured, nano-textured or smooth, all of which are more common with round implants. Macro-textured has been associated with a higher risk of lymphoma than the other surface options. As such, Mr Pieri almost always uses round implants for his breast enlargement procedures.
- Breast Implant Size: The size of your implants will affect the look of your breast implants and your comfort. Also, larger breast implants are more likely to lead to complications, so you need to consider this when finding the perfect enhanced breast size.
- Breast Implant Placement: Your breast implant placement will affect the eventual look of your implants and your comfort level. There are three options, each related to where the implant is placed in relation to your chest muscle. Your surgeon can explain each one and help you find the one that will work best for you.
Each of these factors can change the overall effect of your breast implants and the potential risks, so make sure you take the time to consider all your options. Your breast surgeon can discuss the options with you to ensure you make an informed choice.
Can You Have Breast Implants Removed?
Breast implants can be removed following the procedure for any reason. Mostly when women choose to have implant removal or replacement, it is due to their own tissue changing around the implant rather than the implant itself becoming the problem. Often this is at around 10-15 years after original implant insertion, but it can be earlier or later than this.
If your surgeon can see no signs of rupture, but you’re still unsure about your implants, then you can have them removed anyway and either replaced or consider alternative options in the future, such as a different size implant or alternative breast enlargement options like fat transfer surgery. Mr Pieri can provide a breast implant sizing session to help you identify the right size for your replacement implants.
Risks Of Breast Implants
Modern research and safeguards mean that getting breast implants is safer than ever. There are some complications that can arise.
One worry many women have is that undergoing breast implant surgery will give them an increased risk of breast cancer. However, there is no significant evidence to support this concern.
Also, many women worry about anaesthetic complications, despite this being very rare, particularly in fit and well patients. Following the procedure, there is also a slight risk of infection or additional scarring, but all these issues could occur during or after any surgical procedure, not just breast augmentation.
An issue some women may face is called Capsular Contracture, where the internal scar tissue around the breast implant constricts, causing a worse cosmesis and sometimes even pain in severe cases. This issue can occur over time and if severe, requires a procedure to remove the capsule and replace or remove the implants. Capsular contracture rates vary with different implant types. The capsular contracture rate is a factor that Mr Pieri considers when choosing which brand of implant to use in his practice. At the time of writing, Motiva Ergonomix implants have one of the lowest capsular contracture rates on the market, which is one of the reasons Mr Pieri feels that they are superior to many other breast implant brands. This is likely due to the breast implant surface texture, which varies significantly from implant to implant.
Implant ruptures are another issue women worry about, and these can occur at any time for any reason. Commonly, they are the result of an injury, but they can occur at any time. When silicone breast implants rupture, the gel inside is usually contained within the scar tissue capsule around the implant, known as intracapsular rupture. In some cases, it may migrate and go into the breast tissue, which is known as extracapsular rupture and gel migration. Every issue is different, and you will need to speak to your breast surgeon about these problems if they do arise.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but you can find out more by reading Mr Pieri’s Consent Form, which will be provided at the time of your initial consultation. If you do face a complication or health problems that means you have to have your breast implants removed, you can consider further surgery to enhance your breasts in the future. This might include fat transfer from another part of your body or a breast lift to enhance your natural breasts.
Is A Breast Lift Safer Than Implants?
Some women might think that a breast lift is safer than implants, and while there is no chance of implant rupture or Capsular Contracture, there are still surgical complications that can arise from a breast lift.
There could still be issues with your breast skin losing sensation or complications from the anaesthetic, but due to the fact that you are not inserting a silicone implant, which is a foreign body, into your breast, there are fewer risks.
However, the right procedure for an individual is dependent on their breast aesthetic starting point and their desired outcome. Sometimes a breast uplift alone is the right choice. Sometimes a breast augmentation without implants is preferable. And sometimes a breast lift combined with implants is the best choice.
What Breast Surgeons Do To Keep You Safe
Breast surgeons like Mr Pieri will do everything in their power to keep you safe before, during and after your procedure. The General Medical Council has strict requirements for anyone performing or assisting with surgical procedures such as this, so you can rest assured that you’ll be given the highest possible standard of care.
Mr Pieri goes above and beyond to stay up to date with the newest breast implant technology and new studies so that he can choose the best approach and products that will increase the chances of a positive outcome for your procedure.
Before your surgery, he will provide a breast implant sizing session to talk you through the procedure and help you choose the right size breast implants. He can also answer any questions you might have. He will read your patient notes and medical history to ensure any precautions needed are taken during the procedure.
Following your breast augmentation, Mr Pieri will provide ongoing aftercare, including follow-up appointments, to check for any issues or symptoms of implant rupture or capsular contracture. He can also talk you through the breast surgery recovery process and how to tell when your implants need replacing so you have all the information and support you need.
Choose A Leading Breast Surgeon In Newcastle
Breast implants have been around since the 19th century, and since that time, healthcare providers have been working hard to create safe solutions for women.
It’s impossible to fully mitigate the risks involved in having surgery, but you can make informed choices to limit your chances of health issues further down the line.
The best way to reduce your risk of complications and feel secure before your breast augmentation surgery is to choose a supportive, experienced breast surgeon.
Mr Pieri has the skills and knowledge to guide you through the process from initial consultation to post-surgery aftercare. He aims to ensure every patient he treats gets the highest possible standard of care and achieves the outcome they desire.
While every surgical procedure comes with some level of risk, Mr Pieri has the skills to reduce the chances of complications by drawing on his expertise to make informed choices and provide the highest possible standard of care.
To learn more about breast implant surgery, call +447526556934 or email [email protected]. If you’d like to start your breast enlargement journey, book a consultation at any of Mr Pieri’s locations across Newcastle.
