I have not had even a single patient claim that they could feel the valve of a McGhan or Mentor saline implant. In my experience, the failure rate of saline implants is low. So, based on these two issues alone, I would not think that the slightly larger scar required to insert an implant that is already full, would be worth it!

Now we come to the issue of the PIP implant being slightly softer than other saline implants.  Having handled all of these types of implants I agree, that the PIP implant is very slightly softer, but only very slightly.  There are many surgeons however that are wary of these implants because of the change in the composition of the implant shell which makes it softer.

The implant shell used in the PIP is a material known as an elastomer.  This particular elastomer is very similar to the shell material that was abandoned approximately 14 years ago by other implant companies due to a very high failure rate.

In personal communication with representatives of the PIP company I have been assured that the failure rate over the past few years with PIP implants has been every bit as low as the failure rate in other saline implants.  There are many surgeons, however, that are skeptical.  They do not believe that enough time has passed to prove that the PIP elastomer will be reliable when in place for extended periods of time.

I have spoken with many patients that were considering using these implants over the past few years.  Some have had a very hard time deciding which implants to choose.  The FDA has made that decision a lot easier.  As of mid-May, 2000, the FDA has taken these implants off the market pending adequate supervised investigation.