Email This SiteAbout Breast Implants
For enlargement surgery, Dr. Eisenberg uses saline-filled breast implants, which were officially approved by the FDA in May 2000. He also uses silicone gel-filled implants, which were approved by the FDA in November 2006.While a breast enlargement incision can be made around the nipple, under the arm, or under the breast, Dr. Eisenberg prefers to make it under the breast near the crease. This placement allows the incision to be fairly well hidden. There are fewer vital structures to go through, unlike an underarm incision, which may involve blood vessels and nerves to the arm, and an incision through the nipple, which can interfere with milk ducts and healthy breast tissue. When the incision is made beneath the breast, the pocket behind the muscle where the implant will be placed can be seen and reached easily without touching the breast tissue.
Dr. Eisenberg places breast implants behind the chest muscle, not in front of the muscle, for the following reasons:
- This placement lessens the chance of developing unnatural hardness (capsular contraction).
- There is less chance of seeing or feeling the rim of the implant.
- A woman usually can still breast feed if she would have been able to do so otherwise.
- There is less shadow cast on mammography. (Many radiologists have experience interpreting mammograms when there are implants.)
- Manual breast exams are still possible after the enlargement.
- Implants aren't fragile. Many of our patients tell us that after three months they do activities like scuba and sky diving, kick boxing and body building and their implants are fine.
- Deflation usually occurs in less than 2% of patients. Should an implant deflate, the body will absorb the saline and it will be passed out in your urine. The breast will usually return to its original size.
- The implant manufacturer, under certain deflation criteria, currently offers free replacement implants for life. The company also provides up to $1,200 to cover the hospital and anesthesia costs for 10 years after your initial surgery. In addition, they offer a 10-year warranty (for a $100 one-time fee) to cover the surgeon's fee up to $1,200 to replace the implant. (This applies to any doctor, not just the one who did the original surgery.) If you are my patient and you have a deflation, the warranty and fee would cover all of your expenses.
