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How Strong Is A Breast Implant? (video)

Tag Archives: breast implants

“What happens if my breast implant breaks?”, “What does it take to break a breast implant?”

These are two commonly asked questions that patients ask plastic surgeons during consultations for breast augmentation. I’ve been told that the Mythbusters television show demonstrated that a breast implant can survive being run over by a car and I’ve relayed this information to a few of my patients. But when we searched for a clip from that show we were unable to find any evidence of this experiment. So we thought we’d give it a shot by running over a saline breast implant with my truck. Not that it makes a huge difference but I drive a large truck (Ford Raptor SVT) so this is a true test of the implant’s strength.

Most implant ruptures or breaks are spontaneous and are likely a result of what the breast implant companies have coined a mechanical failure, or a manufacturer defect. This explains why when I remove a ruptured saline implant from a patient I am often unable to find a leak in the deflated breast implant after it is removed.

Although our little test has zero scientific validity it is not a gimmick. As a plastic surgeon I was quite curious about whether or not the implant would remain intact.

Results: When part of the saline-filled breast implant is outside of the tire base the implant stretches and remains intact. The test was repeated many times on hard pavement with the implant sitting on a blue towel like the ones I use in surgery. When the entire breast implant is placed under the tire the implant ruptures. We filmed this second test in slow motion.

What does this test prove? The test demonstrates that these are very strong, pliable medical devices. Obviously no situation in normal daily life mimics this test but I found the results very interesting. I can now honestly tell my patients that the implant was undamaged after being repeatedly smashed into the pavement. And this isn’t as ridiculous as it sounds. I have a patient who is a professional soccer player and she was very concerned about her risk for rupture while playing soccer. This test helped ease her concern.

So enjoy the video and let me know what you think!

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Breast implant placement has a huge effect on the final results of a breast augmentation surgery. Patients have a choice between submuscular (below the pectoral muscle) and subglandular (above the pectoral muscle) placement depending on what suits their needs and the look they wish to achieve. Here, Dr McCluskey explains the importance of breast implant placement:

“Breast implants can either be placed beneath the pectoralis muscle or above the pectoralis muscle. The benefits and risks of implant placement above or below the muscle have been studied extensively by comparing hundreds of thousands of breast augmentation cases and the findings overwhelmingly support submuscular placement of breast implants. Placing implants beneath the muscle, in a pocket created between the chest wall and the pectoralis muscle carries many advantages and reduces risks of complications. It’s difficult to rank these advantages in order of importance but submusclar placement has the following pro’s: 1. reduces the risk of capsular contracture, 2. allows for mammograms to be performed and read (ie doesn’t interfere with early detection of breast cancer or other problems), 3. theoretically patients can still breast feed if they choose to do so, and 4. submuscular implant placement has a more natural appearance and contour in the upper chest.”

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“Gummy bear” implants were recently approved by the FDA and provide a more cohesive silicone gel implant compared with traditional silicone breast implants. This firmer gel is thought to cause less wrinkling and rippling and create a firmness that some women may find more desirable. As with all implants, cohesive gel implants do have risks such as rotation, and larger incisions are needed for their insertions due to their added firmness. Here is Dr McCluskey’s take on cohesive gel implants:

“The breast implant manufacturers such as Mentor Corp, Allergan Natrelle, and Sientra have been touting cohesive gel or gummy bear implants for a long time. These companies created buzz over these new implants, driving patients to plastic surgery offices requesting cohesive gel implants. I performed a number of breast augmentation cases with cohesive gel implants after they were FDA approved, but the results and patient satisfaction ratings were mixed. A number of the patients complained that the implants were too firm & that they didn’t have the softer feel of natural breast tissue. In two cases my patients asked that I remove the cohesive gel implants and replace them with standard silicone gel implants. In both of those cases the patients were much happier after I exchanged the implants. From my experience silicone gel implants have a soft, natural feel and the newer cohesive gel implants are more firm and do not offer an advantage over standard silicone gel implants.”

During your consultation, Dr McCluskey will assess which type of implant is right for you and the look you are trying to achieve.

For more information on treatments and procedures offered offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey visit:

A Silicone Implant

Choosing between the two competing types of breast implants can be a difficult task, but help is at hand! At the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, helping you to achieve the look you desire in the best and safest way possible is our priority. The two choices available to you are saline and silicone implants. Both have a silicone casing, but it’s what’s inside that counts! The number of silicone implants has been on the rise since their FDA approval in 2006 but plastic surgeons continue to use both as they each have their advantages.

Silicone implants are pre-filled with a cohesive silicone gel and resemble the natural feel of breast tissue. Although ruptures can still occur, with silicone implants they are usually undetectable with out use of an MRI, this is known as a “silent rupture”. The FDA recommends an MRI three years after insertion, and every two years after that to check for ruptures. Because they are prefilled, silicone implants (especially of the textured or ‘gummy’ variety) do require larger incisions for insertion.

Saline implants, however, are not prefilled and are filled after insertion by the surgeon, allowing for a smaller incision to be made. Saline implants are filled with saline solution (sterile salt water) similar to fluid already inside the body. In the case of a rupture, saline implants are a lot more noticeable as the saline solution will leak in to the body with out harm causing an obvious change in the size and shape of the breast(s).

Here’s Dr McCluskey’s thoughts on the choice between saline and silicone:

“When a patient arrives for consultation I want to discuss her interest in breast augmentation – why does she want breast augmentation, what are her goals in terms of size, fullness, lifting, or correction of asymmetry? I then show my patients samples of both silicone gel and saline implants. The two types of implants have a distinctly different feel and it is important that the patient knows the difference. Silicone gel implants in my opinion feel more like natural breast tissue and it is less likely that the patient will be able to see or feel ripples. Rippling can occur with either saline or silicone gel breast implants and in many cases it is a result of the patient having very thin skin.

Patients typically arrive at a consultation with a preconceived idea of which type of implant they prefer. Some patients only want saline because that is what their friends have and their friends are very happy. Others like the feel of silicone gel implants and have no interest in a saline implant. Despite these preferences the patients still want to know my opinion about which implant is best for them. As stated above, one of the key deciding factors relates to the thickness of the skin and breast tissue. If the patient has very thin skin then I’d likely recommend a silicone gel implant to avoid rippling. If a patient is concerned about the appearance of the inframammary incision and she prefers the axillary (underarm) incision then I recommend saline implants. On that note, I consider both the axillary and the inframammary to be well-hidden, nearly invisible incisions.

Ultimately deciding between silicone gel and saline implants comes down to patient preference. The good news is that there is no wrong decision. Our experience with these implants shows that patients are typically highly satisfied with breast augmentation surgery regardless of implant style. That said, I’ve had many consultations end with the patient asking me this question: If I performed breast augmentation on my wife or girlfriend which implant would I choose? If left up to me I’d choose high profile silicone gel implants. They mimic the feel of natural breast tissue and I like the projection of high profile implants.”

For more information on other services Dr. McCluskey provides visit sexualaesthetics.com

There is no shortage of options available when it comes to breast implants, so at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta we think it’s important for you to be aware of them all! Anatomically shaped breast implants are an alternative to the usual round implants and can help you to achieve a more natural shape with your breast augmentation.

Anatomical breast implants are filled with a cohesive silicone gel and have a flatter upper pole with more volume towards the lower breast curve just like a natural breast. Anatomical breast implants are available in different sizes with different projections, to add the right amount of projection to the breast where desired. Anatomical breast implants have a textured surface which adheres to the surrounding tissue after insertion to minimize implant rotation, a possible issue not associated with round implants.

Due to their distributed volume, anatomical breast implants may be more suited to women who are slim, have moderate breast tissue, desire a natural looking breast and don’t wish to have the fuller upper breast shape associated with round breast implants. If you think that anatomical breast implants may be right for your breast augmentation, Dr McCluskey will discuss all the options available to you at your consultation.

Here’s Dr. McCluskey’s take on anatomical breast implants:

“Anatomic or teardrop shaped implants seem to make a lot of sense for breast augmentation. The normal breast has a teardrop shape so creating a shaped implant with a similar shape to the breast is intuitive. That said, I don’t use the shaped implants for breast augmentation. Most of my patients, especially women with mild breast ptosis (droop) wish to have more fullness in the upper pole (upper part of the chest/breast). Like most plastic surgeons I have extensive experience with round breast implants and I haven’t found a need use shaped or anatomic implants. In my opinion the shaped implants do not offer any advantage over round implants.

Another issue with placing shaped or anatomic implants involves the breast pocket. When using shaped implants the pocket must be carefully and precisely created. If the pocket is too wide, the shaped implant will have room to rotate or flip and the larger part of the teardrop could end up in the upper chest giving the breast an odd or deformed appearance. With a round implant a slightly larger pocket gives the implant more mobility, like that of a natural breast, and the implant can rotate freely without any changes in appearance.

I fully applaud & support efforts to improve implant construction and technology. Breast implants are patient specific and certainly one size does not fit all. I currently prefer round implants for breast augmentation. I’m open to trying any improvements on the currently available & FDA approved breast implants but we have a very high satisfaction rate with round silicone gel and saline implants.”

For more information on other services Dr. Paul McCluskey provides visit http://sexualaesthetics.com/