Silicone breast implants have gone through a series of changes since the FDA moratorium on silicone gel filled breast implants in 1992. The silicone gel implant was reintroduced back into the U.S. market in 2006 when the FDA did an extensive review of clinical trials and found silicone implants to be safe for women.  These implants may be used on women aged 22 or older for the purpose of breast augmentation or breast reconstruction.   Women looking for a fuller profile who want the most natural feeling implant based substance should consider silicone implants.

The cohesive gel implant is the newest technology available in silicone breast implants. Dr. Khalifeh uses the cohesive gel implants manufactured by Mentor and Natrelle. Also known as the gummy bear implant, the cohesive gel implant is a “soft solid” with the texture of a gummy bear. It looks and feels like natural breast tissue. This firmer implant can be cut without loss of shape. This means that there is probably no leakage of the silicone from the implant should it rupture or tear.  The term cohesive refers to the stability of its shape.  This implant will retain its shape regardless of its position. The implant will also not fold, which may occur with some round traditional silicone implants. During surgery, Dr. Khalifeh typically uses the periareolar incision around the nipple or underneath the breast at the inframammary fold depending on patient preference. The transaxillary or armpit incision may be used as well. The implant may be inserted on top of the chest muscle, or partially or fully beneath the chest muscle.

A traditional silicone implant has a silicone rubber shell that is filled with silicone gel. This type of implant will change shape due to gravity when a woman stands up. It will look natural on a woman whether it is round or teardrop shaped due to the fluidity of the gel inside. The cohesive silicone gel implant currently under study in the United States is anatomically or teardrop shaped because of its inherent stability; if it were round it would remain round when a woman stood up. The teardrop shape is a more natural shape. Different companies make cohesive gel implants that vary in firmness from very liquid to very solid. Round, more fluid cohesive gel implants that are currently used in Europe may tend to fold while the more solid implant will resist this tendency.

Surgery takes place in Dr. Khalifeh’s accredited surgical center in Chevy Chase, Maryland under general or twilight (intravenous) sedation.  If an overnight stay is desired, it will take place at the Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. where Dr. Khalifeh holds privileges. Breast augmentation surgery takes one to one and a half hours to perform. Patients should plant to take at least three days off work. The recovery period is one week and stitches are removed at that time. It will be another two weeks before strenuous activity may be resumed. Though rare, possible complications may include bleeding, infection, implant rupture, breast asymmetry, loss of nipple or breast sensation, capsular contracture and risks associated with anesthesia.  Some interesting facts were discovered from the massive number of studies done on silicone implants. The implants are not intended to last a lifetime and most women will require more surgery on their breasts at some point in their lifetime.  The act of placing an implant causes permanent changes in a woman’s breasts. Most implants that rupture do so silently so that the woman is unaware of the rupture. A regular MRI screening should be done three years after the implant, then every two years. If an implant is found to have ruptured, it should be removed and replaced.

Call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Khalifeh about the silicone cohesive gel implant at (301) 244-0148.