Implant Exchange : Saline to Silicone Gel, Raleigh, North Carolina*

Many women who underwent saline breast augmentation have chosen to exchange their saline implants for silicone gel devices. During the early 1990s, silicone gel implants were withdrawn from the market and only available under a clinical trial protocol up until in 2006. During this time, saline devices which were not as popular in the 1980s , were the only implants available. Most surgeons began using submuscular technique during this time to reduce the palpability of the saline implants. Saline implants have several advantages however they are more palpable and on thin patients can lead to visible rippling. This patient was very slender and did not like the easily palpable breast implants. She also developed some degree of lateralization and a wider cleavage over time. At surgery, she was found to have 200 cc textured Allergan implants. These devices have actually been withdrawn from the market recently because of concerns about possibility of ALCL. The patient did not have any evidence of that disease. She did desire fuller-appearing breasts and had placement of 385 cc SRF Allergan smooth-walled implants. She was very pleased with the improvement and minimal palpability of her new silicone gel implants. Implant exchange from saline to Silicone gel is a fairly common procedure and often can be very simple. However, this is not necessarily a straightforward operation as improvement in implant position has to be performed sometimes with capsular manipulation.