When considering breast augmentation, one of the most significant decisions you’ll face is choosing between saline and silicone breast implants. Each type has its unique benefits and potential drawbacks, making it essential to understand their differences to make an informed decision that aligns with your personal goals and lifestyle.
Understanding Saline Breast Implants
Saline breast implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution.1 They are inserted into the breast pocket empty and filled a predetermined amount once they are in place, allowing for a smaller incision. One of the primary advantages of saline implants is that if they rupture, the body can safely absorb the saline solution. This type of implant also provides a firmer feel, which some patients prefer.
Pros of Saline Implants:
- Smaller Incisions: Due to their fill-at-placement nature, the incisions required for saline implants are typically smaller, which can lead to less noticeable scarring.
- Easier to Detect Ruptures: If a saline implant ruptures, it deflates quickly, making it immediately noticeable.2 This immediate feedback can prompt timely medical attention.
- Adjustable Size: During surgery, the volume can be adjusted, offering more flexibility in achieving the desired breast size.
Cons of Saline Implants:
- Less Natural Feel: Saline implants are often firmer and can feel less natural compared to silicone implants.
Rippling: Saline implants may show ripples or wrinkles (due to the viscous properties of salt water), particularly in women with thinner breast tissue. - Immediate Detection of Rupture: While it is a safety feature, a rupture leads to immediate deflation, which can be distressing and require prompt surgical intervention.
Understanding Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone breast implants are filled with a silicone gel that mimics the feel of natural breast tissue.3 They are pre-filled before insertion, requiring a slightly larger incision than saline implants. Silicone implants are favored for their more natural look and feel.
Pros of Silicone Implants:
- Natural Feel: Silicone gel closely mimics the consistency of natural breast tissue, providing a softer and more natural feel.
- Less Rippling: Silicone implants tend to show less rippling and wrinkling, making them a better choice for women with less natural breast tissue.4
- Long-lasting Results: Silicone implants often maintain their shape and feel over a longer period compared to saline implants.
Cons of Silicone Implants:
- Larger Incisions: The pre-filled nature of silicone implants requires a larger incision, which can result in more noticeable scarring.
- Silent Ruptures: If a silicone implant ruptures, the gel may stay within the implant shell or leak into the breast implant pocket, making it less obvious and requiring imaging to detect. It is important to note that the issue of rupture has been significantly diminished with the advent of ‘gummy bear’ implants. These are the latest generation of silicone implants. They differ from traditional silicone implants because the silicone gel inside behaves much like a solid. If we were to take a gummy bear implant and cut it in half, two solid pieces would be created. Doing the same with traditional silicone implants would result in the liquid silicone oozing out in a goopy mess. The solid-like properties of the silicone in the gummy bear implant is believed to virtually eliminate the risk of silicone leakage, even if the outer shell were to be compromised. Dr. Tong uses gummy bear implants exclusively when choosing silicone implants. He has observed that none of his patients has suffered from silicone leakage in the decade plus that he has used them.
- Cost: Silicone implants are generally more expensive than saline implants, which may be a consideration for some patients.
Making the Right Choice
The decision between saline and silicone implants is deeply personal and should be made in consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Factors to consider include your aesthetic goals, body type, lifestyle, and the specific characteristics of each type of implant. Your surgeon can provide valuable insights based on their experience and expertise, helping you choose the option that best suits your needs. In general, Dr. Tong usually recommends gummy bear implants (otherwise known as highly cohesive silicone gel implants) because they possess many aesthetic advantages over saline implants. At the same time, the gummy bear implant virtually eliminates the risk of leakage which was traditionally the most significant disadvantage of silicone implants.
Learn More About Breast Implants
Breast augmentation is a highly individualized procedure, and the type of implant you choose will play a significant role in your overall satisfaction with the results. By understanding the differences between saline and silicone implants, you can make an informed decision that enhances your confidence and meets your aesthetic desires. Remember, the ultimate goal is to feel comfortable and confident in your body, inside and out. To learn more about breast augmentation with implants, please contact us today.
1 FDA. Types of Breast Implants. Available: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/types-breast-implants#. Accessed June 7, 2024.
2 StatPearls. Breast Implant Rupture. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459308/#. Accessed June 7, 2024.
3 ASPS. What types of breast implants are available? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation/implants#. Accessed June 7, 2024.
4 PRS Global Open. Prospective Study of Saline versus Silicone Gel Implants for Subpectoral Breast Augmentation. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7339341/#. Accessed June 7, 2024.