Breast implants
Within this last year, the FDA has lifted the ban on silicone implants. According to the experts, 350,000 women in the United States will undergo implant surgery.
After breast feeding three children, Marie MacIntyre didn't like the way her breasts looked.
"I have lost weight. It wasn't a lot but it was enough, there really was nothing left but skin, so I wanted them filled back out and put back where they belong," MacIntyre said.
Which to choose -- saline or silicone? The FDA says silicone implants are safe and are not linked to illness caused by leakage.
"The silicone. I thought the feel of them are so real and that is really what I wanted," MacIntyre said.
Doctors say they are better than they were 25 years ago.
"In the sense now that the gel is cohesive, they call them gummy bear implants. So if you cut this implant straight down the middle, this silicone, the silicone won't leak out, it will stay there just like a gummy bear," plastic surgeon Dr. Alan Polynice said.
Implants can be placed either on top or underneath the pectoral muscle. Dr. Alan Polynice places them only under the pec muscle, which is technically a more difficult procedure, but has many advantages.
"They look more natural. You have a much more natural slope from the chest to the breast. You don't have the appearance what I call the half a coconut on your chest because since they are under the muscle," Dr. Polynice said.
Placing them under the muscle reduces any rippling effect or obvious rides. It also allows for clearer mammographies and less risk of covering a tumor or lump.
When comparing silicone with the saline, saline is cheaper but because it is filled through a valve, there is three percent risk it will leak. All in all, if they are placed under the muscle, they look the same. The difference is in how they feel.
"The silicone implants feel much better. So if a women had a very small breast, small A cup and didn't have a lot to cover the implant, if you use a saline implant it may be a little more palpable or a little more noticeable as opposed to a silicone implant," said Dr. Polynice.
The surgery takes less than an hour and a half. Many doctors make the incision under the breast, but Dr. Polynice places the implant through the nipple. Side effects include pain and swelling and 20 percent of the patients may experience decreased sensation in the nipple which is often temporary. Marie was back to work in a few days.
"I feel great. I look in the mirror and it's like having 25 year old breasts. They are perfect they are beautiful. It makes me feel very good," MacIntyre said.