Silicone implants ‘more satisfactory’ than saline implants: Study

WASHINGTON - A study has revealed that breast cancer patients who undergo silicone implantation are a lot more satisfied than those who get saline implants.

Women suffering from breast cancer often undergo breast reconstructive surgery - with either saline (salt water) or silicone gel.

Colleen McCarthy of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and her colleagues found that patients with silicone implants were more satisfied with their reconstructed breasts than patients with saline implants.

A total of 472 patients in the study completed questionnaires. In 176 women, silicone implants were placed; in 306, saline implants were used.

“It also appears that patient satisfaction with postmastectomy implant-based reconstruction is generally high and that individual treatment variables-such as implant type-explain only a relatively small amount of the variance. Patient counseling should reflect these realities in order to reassure patients that high satisfaction may be obtained with both saline and silicone implants,” McCarthy said.

The study is published in Cancer. (ANI)