Richard V. Dowden, M.D., C.M., F.A.C.S.

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Inc.
6770 Mayfield Road, Suite 410
(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
(440) 449-7470


Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about
breast enlargement:

Is it true that water can go through the implant shell, but bacteria cannot?

That is correct. Just like a rubber balloon, the implant silicone shell material is "semi-permeable." That means there are molecular openings in the shell itself. These openings, too small to be seen with a microscope, will allow atoms and molecules less than a certain size to pass through, while preventing larger molecules from passing. For example, the salt molecule is unable to pass through, but the water molecule can, by the process called osmosis.

That means two important facts: First, it is not possible for bacteria, viruses, mold, or fungus to get through the implant shell to the inside, because those are far too large. Second, the water molecules can freely exchange and so the water is constantly being refreshed.

So if water can pass through, why doesn't the implant get smaller and deflate as time passes? That's where the laws of osmosis come in. Osmosis is the phenomenon of the exchange of molecules through a membrane such as the implant shell. Because the concentration of salt water inside the implant is identical to that of the body outside the implant, osmosis requires that if a water molecule passes out of the implant, another water molecule must move in to replace it. That is why the water is constantly being refreshed, and yet the implant does not deflate.


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Note that while the information given by Dr. Dowden during a consultation is completely current and up-to-date, the information of this website is only as current as the date of last update, and therefore may become out-of-date.
6770 Mayfield Road, Suite 410
(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
(440) 449-7470

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Last Update: 7:27 PM on 06/01/2008
URL of Dr. Dowden's home page: http://dr-dowden.com/index.html
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URL of breast enlargement via navel page: http://dr-dowden.com/main/tuba.html

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