I'm seriously thinking about getting impkants- right now I'm looking at silicone under the muscle. I have small A breasts, and liek I've mentioned before, look like a 12 year old. i dont mind if people tease me, and I'm not doing this for anyone else. I'd like bigger breasts, period. For me. To make ME more comfortable in a dress.

So...that said, what are the real risks? I have read about the skin hardening aroudn the implant, possible leaks, etc...but how common are these? One page I read said 80% of implants will leak withing 5 years...another said less than 5%. Huge discrepancy.... What are the chances that I can live witht hese for 10 years before I need to get them remoevd?

And what if I get pregnant within those 10 years? Are they affected? I guess I'm wodnering if there are any clinical studies that have real data, and not just made up of conhecture and propaganda.

On an aside- has anyone tried using the BRava system, for natural gain of one size? I'd be willing to try this as well- I knwoits a hassle/lot of effort, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

Hope this helps, I got implants in 2005, I went with silicone under muscle. At the time I had the procedure, my surgeon in Canada, who is one of the top in our country, told me that silicone has made huge advancements since it was first introduced. Silicone now contains ingredients that should it leak (and the rate for this is low(much) than years ago due to the advanced shell, it will be absorbed and shed by your system easier...the the rate of leak or rupture is very low. It would take a major blow to rupture an implant...like falling 20 stories...lol...and well then what in your body won't ruture and explode!
Also with the advancements of the outershell that hold the saline or silicone the need to replace in 5-10 years is not neccessary.The outershell of the implants are now very body friendly. Depending on your age when you have the implants they may last a lifetime.

Once I healed from the surgery(the recovery was rough, and painful but it was my choice) I have never not liked they way I look now. I was also a lop sided A and now a full C and they look very natural and people don't even question. I also don't worry about them, I often don't think about them at all.
Lets face it there is risk in just waking up every morning going about our days, if you want enhancement, get the enhancement.

Plastic Surgery like all medical surgery, it improves daily, the worries now from Breast enhancement is very low. The list of dangers are higher for liposuction than enhancements.

My advice is talk and talk with your surgeon, ask questions, and take their advice, great surgeons will talk to you about the good, the bad, the ugly.
Often they will encourage you to have more than one consultation.

Hope I helped.

Thank you so much! You helped greatly. I expected many responses telling me to be happy with what I have (which is almost nothing!). I'm going to go for a couple of consultations ( I haven't done that yet) and see what my options are.

Again, your response is greatly appreciated!

I'm seriously thinking about getting impkants- right now I'm looking at silicone under the muscle. I have small A breasts, and liek I've mentioned before, look like a 12 year old. i dont mind if people tease me, and I'm not doing this for anyone else. I'd like bigger breasts, period. For me. To make ME more comfortable in a dress.

So...that said, what are the real risks? I have read about the skin hardening aroudn the implant, possible leaks, etc...but how common are these? One page I read said 80% of implants will leak withing 5 years...another said less than 5%. Huge discrepancy.... What are the chances that I can live witht hese for 10 years before I need to get them remoevd?

And what if I get pregnant within those 10 years? Are they affected? I guess I'm wodnering if there are any clinical studies that have real data, and not just made up of conhecture and propaganda.

On an aside- has anyone tried using the BRava system, for natural gain of one size? I'd be willing to try this as well- I knwoits a hassle/lot of effort, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

Please do more research! I had implants for 18 years. What I was told then, which was thought to be the correct information, "implants last forever" was not the truth. I had my ruptured implant removed last year.
This is from the fda site November 2006:
Full information about the risks and benefits of the devices can be found in the package and patient labeling mandated by FDA. The patient labeling outlines some of the important factors women should consider when deciding whether to get silicone gel-filled breast implants. Some of these factors are: breast implants are not lifetime devices and a woman will likely need additional surgeries on her breast at least once over her lifetime; many of the changes to a woman’s breast following implantation are irreversible; rupture of a silicone gel-filled breast implant is most often silent, which means that usually neither the woman nor her surgeon will know that her implants have ruptured; and a woman will need regular screening MRI examinations over her lifetime to determine if silent rupture has occurred. The device labeling states that a woman should have her first MRI three years after her initial implant surgery and then every two years thereafter. The cost of MRI screening over a woman’s lifetime may exceed the cost of her initial surgery and may not be covered by medical insurance. The labeling also states that if implant rupture is noted on an MRI, the implant should be removed and replaced, if needed.
Just be fully informed by reputable sites, not by women who love their new implants or plastic surgeons who make their living off of implants.
Best of luck.

I've had saline breast implants under the muscle for 8 years now with no problems. Since I've had them I've been pregnant, and breastfed 2 children.

An 80% leak rate in 5 years sounds really high to me. I have no plans on having anything done to my implants at the 10 year mark unless there is a problem. I know one lady who has had silicone implants for close to 20 years now with no issues. I knew another lady who had saline implants that got capsular contractions about 3-4 years after having the implants put in and had to have them redone.

So...there are definitely risks, but it doesn't mean that everyone is going to have problems. Just do your research and ask a bunch of questions!! Good luck!! :)

I know one lady who has had silicone implants for close to 20 years now with no issues.

There is something called a silent rupture. Can only be determined by an MRI.
I didn't think mine had ruptured either until I had terrible pain. When they were removed , my ruptured implant was a nasty yellow color. The one not ruptured was clear. I was told the implant had probably been ruptured for several years.
I was lucky none of the silicone migrated. Not everyone is so fortunate.

she needs to have an open mind about the risks and THE REWARDS

I totally agree. There are risks when you have a breast augmentation. But there is a certain degree of risk with EVERYTHING in life. Everyone must make the personal decision to weigh the risks vs. the benefits and then decide.

I agree with AuntPolly. I too had breast implants. Silicone for 9 years and saline for 9 years. I`am totally disabled because of those toxic bags of poison. The industry has been selling women a false bill of goods. Everytime they change the make up of the gel implant they say its the "new and improved" they say how it can`t leak, etc. They have been saying the same thing for over 30 years everytime they try to change the chemical makeup. They will all leak! There is no such thing as a SAFE BREAST IMPLANT! Saline is not safe either. Please be happy with what you were born with. I wish I had been. You should see what I look like now after having two ************s. They have to remove your own tissue to get rid of all the silicone that gets imbedded into you. Yes, the shell of both silicone and salines are made of silicone.
I`am a memeber of an on-line support group for women who have been harmed by breast implants. I can tell you there are thousands apon thousands of us. I don`t even want to go into the tradgedy of discussing how doctors tell women its safe to breastfeed their babies with implants and how sick some of these womens kids are with the same illnesses we have.
All to make plastic surgeons and chemical companies rich. Its a disgrace.

I totally agree. There are risks when you have a breast augmentation. But there is a certain degree of risk with EVERYTHING in life. Everyone must make the personal decision to weigh the risks vs. the benefits and then decide.

Yes life is a risk. Walking out the door, driving a car, flying in an airplane. There are enough risks that we can't control. So why put yourself at risk by putting something not proven to be safe in your body? The risk of infection, bleeding, and death during surgery and then future surgeries down the road.
From someone who has been there, done that, it isn't worth the risks.
But I agree with you. Everyone has to make their own decision. At least the person that started this post is taking the time to learn the risks. Most people will read the risks and think it won't happen to them. Maybe not. But one thing that is guaranteed to happen is future surgery will be needed. Implants are not life time devices.