For any breast procedure requiring the placement of breast implants, my patients are offered the option of using either silicone or saline implants. This would include women who are considering breast augmentation, breast lift with implants, breast implant exchange and breast reconstruction. I thoroughly discuss with them all the important and relevant information about these two types of implants such as appearance, feel, durability, aesthetics, rupture, risks and possible areas of concern. They also are able to touch and closely examine both the silicone and saline implants.

What have I found is the overwhelming majority of my patients select the silicone implants for both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and they definitely don’t regret the choice. The aesthetic results and much higher level of satisfaction irrefutably support the substantially greater superiority of silicone implants as compared to the saline ones. This is true for both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. In my practice it is quite rare now for a woman to opt for saline implants and when they do it is virtually always because they cost $1,000 less a pair which then makes the cosmetic surgery affordable.

This finding is consistent with the medical literature including research just published in the November issue of “Cancer”. This multicenter study examined and analyzed the responses obtained from 672 women who had post-mastectomy (for breast cancer) breast reconstruction utilizing either silicone or saline implants. The results revealed a statistically significant greater level of satisfaction in women who chose the silicone breast implants for their reconstruction as opposed to the saline ones.

So, if you are interesting in pursuing either a cosmetic or reconstructive breast procedure that involves the usage of breast implants and were initially leaning toward saline implants you may want to strongly reconsider.

For additional information on silicone or saline breast implants, breast augmentation, breast reconstruction or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a consultation, please call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

Taking into consideration all major cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures, women who have had breast reduction surgery are the happiest and most satisfied patients. To put this into perspective, it even exceeds breast augmentation surgery where 94% of women would make the same decision if they had to do it all over again. A major reason for this is that breast reduction surgery is so effective in improving or totally alleviating pain, discomfort and even activity restrictions related to very large breast size.

An example of the substantial results than can be obtained with breast reduction surgery is illustrated with the following patient of mine. This is a 29 year old woman who was experiencing severe neck, back and shoulder pains directly related to the enormous size of her breasts for which she wore 36G bras (photos A, C and E). They also prevented her from engaging in anything more than mild physical activities such as sports and aerobics.

A.) before - frontal view

B.) after breast reduction

C.) before - side view

D.) after breast reduction

E.) before - oblique view

F.) after breast reduction

Even at her relatively young age, she already had deep grooves of her shoulders from the bra straps digging into her skin (photo G).

G.) groove of right shoulder

Her decision to pursue breast reduction surgery was an easy one. The technique employed involved an anchor shaped incision where the nipple-areola complex was kept attached to the tissues but reduced in size and elevated to the appropriate position. Five pounds of breast tissue were removed during the procedure.

The results from her reduction mammoplasty are seen in photos B, D, and F and are quite dramatic. There has been total resolution or her neck, back and shoulder pains and is now able to participate in sports and engage in other very physical activities which she was unable to do for years. She is now wearing “C” or “D” bras rather than tent sized “G” bras and is no longer feels self conscious about her breasts. (In fact, she is quite proud of them right now.) As an added bonus, despite the substantial size of the reduction, she has retained some sensation of her nipples.

If you would like additional information regarding breast reduction surgery or any for any other other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a consultation, you can call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona