Topic: Longevity of saline implants?

I had saline implant for 12 years.  No problems.  Now having them changed.  Had expander placed in mast. side as I am going bigger.  No problems with the expander this time around.  Scheduled for exchange on June 20th.   

Sally, Like anything 'man-made' no one can say for sure what the 'shelf-life' is.  My sister has had salines for close to 15 years with no problems.  I have heard women on other boards say that they have had their implants for 20+ years so it's anyone's guess.  Best wishes!

Hi

I have been told....if they are not broken dont fix them.  I have a friend that is going on 20 years with her silicone.  The ps told her that she has a couple more milage and then she should think about exchange.

j

There are no bi-yearly MRIs required for silicone.  Saline also does not require replacing UNLESS they spring a leak.  Like Jade said, if they aren't broken, don't fix them.

I am getting silicone and was told every 10 years they needed to be swapped out.  Also MRIs are recommended every 1-2 years.  This infor was also in the Mento handbook that I had to read and sign 2 weeks prior to my implants..

Ruby

I am an attorney and believe me if you ever develope an issue with regards to your implants and have not been following the "recommended" procedures to the letter (MRI - every 2 years) you will have no recourse. Read Sherry's comments. You didn't mention the almost 30% chance of requiring surgery within the first three years...re-read the book! 

I have been fighting BC and believe me, even if I could keep silicone, I would not. It's just not worth the chance of developing another life threating illness. Saline has no side effect if it leaks - other than going flat. However as it will eventually leak, I think it will be better to replace them at a time that best suits me. I don't want to go flat on a well needed vacation, or in the middle of a Court case. It also could take weeks or even months, to get in to see the PS and get on their OR schedule. That doesn't even address any health issues that may come up and prevent surgery.  

UHHHH, Jean....WE weren't talking about anything but the fact that YOU said that MRIs are REQUIRED for silicone implants.  They are NOT required (they are RECOMMENDED) and that was what I was refuting.  That and the misinformation that you posted about saline NEEDING to be replaced at specific intervals because they are the 'incredible shrinking implants'.  Please don't post info that isn't true.  It makes this VERY difficult for new people trying to sort out this rocky road.  If you want to debate implants in detail, start a new thread and open the discussion.  I read the ENTIRE packet of info, disclaimers, etc and am WELL aware of the pros and cons. MY PS was also very forthcoming with info and didn't try to snowball me.  I do my OWN research and don't depend on my Drs. info which in your cases was HIGHLY unreliable and I told you that BEFORE your exchange surgery.  I can't even IMAGINE a PS (especially one of THE BEST) putting silicone in someone without them signing the consent forms.   Best wishes

Thanks for all the info, ladies. I'm leaning towards saline implants at this point and this was one piece of the puzzle I wanted to figure out. Thanks!

-Sal 

ps

Just read a study the Mayo Clinic had on silicone implants.  Within the past 30 years there was NO sign that silicone implants were the cause of ANY tissue OR immune disease.

j

Mri's are suggested and as with other equipment you purchase if you don't do the suggested maintenance your warranty is voided.  I am not saying that silicone has been proven to be a problem, actually it is in many other human equipment replacement (mostly the knee) and there are no data that that is a problem either.  Mri's would not be suggested if there was some sort of strong concern.  Actually silicone is everywhere in our lives...  doesn't mean that some people can't be reactive and it doesn't mean that it's totally safe either.  As for the FDA well they approved Vioxx - remember..  I am not wanting to feed this fire but the devil is in the details...

Best

Actually there are many reasons that one could "go to court" over the implants..  I don't understand why you are so vested in an incorrect statement the example you use doesn't even begin to address the concern.  Many a lawsuit has been overturned because  the "recommended" usage and care was ignored.  But the point here is that the original question is a good one and needs to be addressed and we should keep asking the question of the companies that produce any product that goes into our body.  It can't be answered because there are too many variables (the length of any implant saline or silicone) so we must do everything we can to protect ourselves - and the variables need to be addressed by the manufacturer.  This is not a perfect product and an MRI is one of the way we can protect ourselves.

Best

:)

my PS uses high coesive gel as it is silicone (gummi bears, fully approved where I live), but in gel form, and doesn't leak. She says that they are guaranteed 20 yrs... and that the exchange at that time is simple (and that, anyway, most likely in 20 years I will welcome a change, fitting more my body THEN).

Marian, You say the original question was a good one....forgive me, but what was the original question???  Are you talking about Sally's question about the longevity of saline implants?....that WAS the original post until someone hijacked this thread with a rant on silicone implants.  BTW, THAT wasn't me!  I merely stepped in to stop the flow of misinformation.   Best wishes

P.S.  I wasn't comparing my example to the gravity of someone's health, merely demonstrating the difference between the word 'required' and 'recommended'. 

P.P.S. CHEERS, Jade! 

IMO you didn't agree with another persons understanding/ experience and jumped in to present yours as well as belittle hers.. she has the same right to be upset as you do without someone questioning her concerns and yes I was saying the original question was a good one..it still is!  You did not stop the flow of misinformation as there wasn't any -- you just disagreed with the information and tried to discredit the person as well as her position when actually IMO she had a good opinion..  Now you don't like what I am saying. Hummmm.. 

Oh yup sending that right over...

Seems to me that if this thread has been hijacked it wasn't hijacked by the individual who was trying her best to protect the thread creater but by those who seem to have an real vested interests in putting breast implants on some sore of pedestal.. I'm done now you are being completely unreasonable and this isn't helping the writer of the thread at all.