Breast augmentation can be done with a choice between two implant filler options, saline and silicone gel. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages and neither implant is right for everyone. Silicone gel implants offer a more natural feel (a particular benefit in women with little to no natural breast tissue) and no risk of spontaneous deflation when they fail.
Today’s silicone gel breast implants have only been available for slightly less than five years since they re-released by the FDA in late 2006. This leaves a large number of women who have undergone breast augmentation from 1991 to 2006 when only saline implants were available. This leaves some saline patients who are near the unpredictable end of their implant’s lifespan (10 to 20 years) or may have wanted to switch implants for a more natural feel. (if they suffer from implant rippling) Many women will eventually be forced into an implant decision when their saline implants eventually fail. (deflate)
To address these implant concerns the largest breast implant manufacturer in the U.S., Mentor Corporation, has announced an incentive program for those women that currently have saline implants. For former saline breast augmentation patients who want to change to silicone gel implants, Mentor has a program called Feel The Difference! By switching from saline to silicone breast implants, Mentor offers each patient a special $250 savings incentive. Patients will receive their $250 in the form of an American Express Gift Card that comes directly from Mentor by mail. There is nothing the patient has to do to be enrolled. The implanting plastic surgeon provides the patient’s name and contact information, silicone gel implant numbers and theformer saline implant numbers to Mentor.
While this amount of money alone won’t make it possible to undergo breast implant replacement surgery for some, it is a nice manufacturer benefit to those who are motivated to do so anyway.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana