How does overfilling or under-filling the implant increase the risk of rupture?

See the Implant Fill page.

What is a device card?

A device card is one of the most important pieces of information you will receive in regards to your implants.  The card contains the catalog number and lot numbers for your implants. Your doctor should give you this card after surgery.  You may need this card in years to come, so please store it in a safe and secure place.

Will overfilling or under-filling the implant cause ripples?    

Either can cause ripples, especially underfilling. If the implant is overfilled, the implant may very well pull at the edges, thus causing a rippling effect, and it will also cause the implant to feel firmer. If the implant is under-filled, folds in the implant will result in a rippling effect as well.  It's important to know that even with optimal fill, you may still have rippling. 

Will overfilling or underfilling my implants void the manufacturers warranty?    

Yes, if the implant is not filled within the manufacturers specifications, they reserve the right to void the warranty. If your surgeon decides to over/under fill, it's advisable to get it in writing that he will cover the expenses that the warranty covers, in the event of a rupture. 

To learn more about implant fill amounts, click here.

How much do Mentor implants cost?   

At the time of this writing (2001), implant prices are:  

Becker and Becker 50: $2000-2200 per implant 
Spectrum Implants: $750-1250 per implant depending on style 
Contour Profile Implants: $650-950 per implant depending on style 
Silicone Gel Implants: $825-1075 per implant depending on the style
Mentor High Profile (3000 series) saline implants - $575 each

Doctors, hospitals, and outpatient surgery facilities can mark up the prices, but generally do not. Prices shown here are the list price.

Is there a difference in the texture of the Mentor and McGhan implants?

Yes, Mentor textured implants have a very fine grained texture. McGhan, on the other hand, has a coarser texture. 

Do breast implants last a lifetime?    

Anything is possible, but in general, the answer to this question is no. In fact, breast implant manufacturers such as Mentor and McGhan state that implants are not considered lifetime devices. The chances of having at least one more surgery in your lifetime are pretty high. However, there are women who have had implants for 20+ years, and have never had a problem.  The average life expectancy of a breast implant is 16 years, according to the IOM (Institute of Medicine).

I will have the opportunity to feel of different types of breast implants when I go to my consult. What should I expect?    

If you can imagine a balloon or a ziplock bag filled with water, this is similar to how how saline breast implants feel. Silicone gel can be equated to jelly or hair gel inside of a balloon or ziplock bag. Silicone gel is softer and more natural feeling than saline is. 

What do implants feel like once they're inside the body?    

Many women equate the feel of their breasts implants to that of a teenage girl with young, healthy, firm breasts. Saline breast implants feel a bit firmer (both inside and outside the body), while silicone gel breast implants are the softer, and more natural feeling implant. 

Do breast implants expire, or have an expiration date?    

No, implants do not have an expiration date.

Do implants make noises like sloshing, squeaking, etc.?    

These noises are common during the first few days after surgery. Air in the pocket causes these types of noises, but they will dissipate anywhere from a few days to a few weeks post-op. 

Sloshing may also be the result of an under-filled implant. For example, if you have a Mentor 300cc implant, Mentor recommends that the implant be filled to at least 300cc, and no more than 325cc. If the implant is filled to, say, 275cc, you may get a sloshing effect. Thankfully, the vast majority of doctors fill the implant to the minimum manufacturer recommendation, at the very least. Overfilling the implant seems more common than underfilling.

Will having capsular contracture cause the implant's shell to weaken, or even rupture?    

There seems to be varying opinions on this.  Some say no, because there is equal amounts of force being exerted on the implant. However, according to Mentor and McGhan, it is possible for very severe cases of capsule contracture to rupture the implant. Thankfully, this does not seem to be a common problem. Out of the hundreds of women I've spoken with, not one of them has had their implants rupture due to capsular contracture. 

What are the symptoms of a ruptured silicone implant?    

Some women may notice a decreased size and/or shape in their breast, pain and/or tenderness in the breast, numbness, tingling, burning, swelling, or hard knots (also known as nodules). Sometimes silicone implants can silently rupture, meaning that the patient has no idea she has experienced a rupture. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) with equipment specifically designed for imaging the breast may be utilized for evaluating patients who have a “suspected” rupture or leakage of a silicone gel breast implant. 

Do breast implants get hard?    

No, implants themselves do not get hard. However, in the event that capsular contracture occurs, your breasts will feel firm. This is due to the scar capsule shrinking, and squeezing the implant, thus making it feel firm. In actuality, when the implant is removed, it feels just as it did when it was placed during the initial surgery.

What are the rupture rates of Mentor and McGhan implants?  

In a prospective clinical study conducted by Mentor, the cumulative, 3-year, by patient rates of a first occurrence of deflation were 3% for 1264 augmentation patients and 9% for 416 reconstruction patients. In a prospective clinical study conducted by McGhan, the cumulative, 3-year, by patient rates of a first occurrence of deflation were 5% for the 901 augmentation patients and 6% for the 237 reconstruction patients. 

Can I have saline added to my implants after the surgery?   

Most breast implants will allow for additional saline to be added (or removed) after surgery. This is a simple office procedure, and can be done under local anesthetic. The price for this varies from surgeon to surgeon, so you will need to ask your doctor what his/her fee is. However, the Mentor High Profile saline breast implants, Mentor Spectrum Expandable, and Mentor Becker Expandable breast implants cannot have saline added or removed once the fill port is taken out.  This information comes directly from Mentor Corp.  It is also important to remember that having saline added or removed, after the port has been closed, may damage the integrity of the valve, making it more prone to leak.

Can bacteria or fungus get inside of the implant once it's placed in my body?

Bacteria are too large to pass through the microscopic pores of the implant shell. If bacteria and/or fungus enter the shell, it would most likely happen at the time of surgery, when the saline solution is being put into the implant.  If you have a good surgeon, this is unlikely to happen. 

How do implants look in clothes? 

For pictures of how implants look in clothes, check out the photos on the Just Breast Implants Discussion Forum. Generally, textured fabrics and form-fitting clothes make you look larger.  Loose-fitting clothes will hide your implants.  For example, a person with a D cup may look more like a B cup in a sweatshirt or t-shirt, or anything that isn't form-fitting, or somewhat snug in fit.

There are clothed photos in the photo gallery. 

If I have to have surgery for bottoming out, capsular contracture, etc., will my surgeon be able to use the same implant?   

Breast implants are one-time use devices. However, according to implant manufacturers, it also depends on the surgery being performed, as well as the judgment of the surgeon as to whether or not a new implant is indicated. 
 

 

 

 

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