Deciding whether to get breast implants is a big decision. Before going forward, you should know as much as you can about the types of implants available, how much they will cost you in the short-term and long-term, and immediate and future health considerations.
Breast Implant Types
There are two types of implants: saline-filled and silicone gel-filled. Saline implants consist of a smooth or textured silicone envelope filled with saline (salt water). Silicone gel implants consist of a smooth or textured silicone envelope filled with silicone gel (a synthetic material). Breast implants also come in different shapes and sizes. There are different reasons why some individuals prefer certain implants over others. You can read more about the different types of implants here.
Implant Costs
In 2016, the all-inclusive cost for initial implant surgery was between $5,000 and $8,000. Silicone gel implants usually cost about $1,000 more than saline implants.
Complications, such as infection, rupture, pain, or asymmetry, are very common. You can read more about breast implant complications here. Breast implants are not lifetime devices. You should expect to need additional surgery at some point, which can cost as much, if not more, than the initial surgery. Additional surgery can be needed because of health issues or cosmetic problems, and is rare during the first year but becomes more likely every year after that. Some women have reported developing autoimmune problems or connective tissue disorder after receiving their implants. In addition, breast implants can cause Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), a rare cancer of the immune system.
All breast implants eventually break and leak, which requires removal and/or replacement. Leakage is more obvious with saline implants, which usually deflate quickly, while silicone gel-filled implant ruptures are less noticeable. Because most women don’t notice when a silicone gel implant ruptures, the FDA recommends having breast MRIs regularly to detect ruptures that have no symptoms. When silicone breast implants were first approved, the FDA recommended that all women undergo a breast MRI 3 years after getting breast implants, and every other year after that. However, because of the expense and the reluctance of plastic surgeons to encourage MRIs for silent ruptures, very few women followed the FDA’s advice. As of October 2020, FDA now recommends an MRI 5-6 years after the initial surgery and every 2-3 years after that.
Breast MRIs to check for implant leakage cost about $2,000 and are not usually covered by health insurance, so that is a substantial expense to be aware of.
Health Considerations
Saline Implants
- All breast implants interfere with mammography, making mammograms less accurate.
- The silicone envelope of the implant will tear or fall apart over time. This can cause the implant to leak and deflate, which is usually noticeable.
- If the implant ruptures, the saline solution is usually not dangerous, but after being in the body it may contain bacteria or mold that can sometimes cause infections
- Textured implants are more likely than smooth implants to cause Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), a type of cancer of the immune system.
Silicone Implants
- All breast implants interfere with mammography, making mammograms less accurate.
- The silicone envelope of the implant will tear or fall apart over time, causing the implant to leak.
- Leaks aren’t usually obvious, so silicone gel can travel to other parts of your body for years before the leak is detected. Silicone gel can be impossible to remove once it travels to breast tissue or other organs, such as the lungs or liver.
- To avoid the health risks of leaking silicone gel, women with silicone gel implants need regular breast MRIs to check for silicone gel leaks. The FDA now recommends an MRI 5-6 years after the initial surgery and every 2-3 years after that.
- Leaking silicone gel can cause pain or swelling. It could cause allergic and/or autoimmune reactions.
- Textured implants are more likely than smooth implants to cause Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), a type of cancer of the immune system.
If you have a family history or a diagnosis of an autoimmune or connective tissue disease, you should know that implants have not been tested for safety in women with those conditions because of health concerns. You can read more about autoimmune reactions here.