Study Shows Saline Breast Implants Have Minimal Deflation Over Time

Saline Implants Out Perform Manufacturer Data

LOS ANGELES, CA, September 9, 2005 – Breast augmentation continues to be one of the most popular forms of cosmetic or elective surgery in the United States. It is estimated that a quarter of a million people will receive implants in 2005 and that number is expected to grow in upcoming years. While the FDA continues its studies on alternative breast implant materials, saline implants remain the most common implant material used in breast augmentation – they provide good results and are not associated with the side effects of older silicon breast implants. Despite their benefits, some rare complications exist such as deflation. Deflation rates of up to 10% over a five-year period have been reported.

Dr. W. Grant Stevens conducted a study to gain more information on the actual rate of deflation. He studied 645 implants in 324 women over a five-year period and used data obtained from operative logs and patient charts. The women ranged in age from 18 to 52 and all patients received the Mentor Siltex saline implants.

“We saw great results,” said Dr. Stevens. “It was better than what the manufacturer even expected.” After one year the average deflation rate was a barely perceptible .3%; after three years it was 2.2%. At five years it was only at 5.2%, far below the manufacturer’s stated claim of 10%. While the study did prove a correlation between time and deflation, the data itself was very encouraging. There still exists a risk of spontaneous deflation with saline implants, but for the majority of women who have successful augmentation using Siltex implants, the very low deflation rates were very encouraging.

“We wanted to have an extended study because existing data was lacking. All of the procedures were performed using the same techniques and all of the patients came in for regular check ups for five years,” said Dr. Stevens. “Mentor Siltex saline implants proved to be excellent implants.”

The earliest deflation was not seen for almost two years after augmentation surgery (685 days after the surgery). The latest deflation didn’t begin for 4.5 years (1666 days after surgery). Saline implants tend to deflate unilaterally, which means only one implant deflates. In the study, all but two of the deflations were unilateral. Of the two patients that experience bilateral deflation, the deflation rates were not the same for each implant. After five years the average deflation rate was 5.2%, almost half of the expected results.

Dr. Grant Stevens is a California board-certified plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of Plastic Surgery Associates in Marina del Rey. He specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery and has been named one of America’s Best Physicians in The Guide to Top Doctors. Dr. Stevens was nominated by his colleagues which makes this recognition especially prestigious and rewarding. He is an active member at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital where he was the Chairman of the Department of Surgery for 6 years and the co-director of the Breast Center. He is also on staff at St. John’s Medical Center and the Marina Outpatient Surgery Center.

Marina Plastic Surgery Associates Medical Corporation and The Institute are dedicated to offering the latest advancements in cosmetic plastic surgery and skin care. Marina Plastic Surgery is committed to providing patients with the highest quality of personalized attention. For more information on Breast Augmentation, go to www.theperfectbreast.com.