Silicone vs Saline Breast Implants To Give You the Results You Want

In 2001, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that 212,500 breast augmentations were performed in North America alone. In the 16 years since, the popularity has only grown, and new progress in breast implant technology has lead to improved durability and even more attention. With both saline and silicone implants available, you must decide which is best for you based on your own goals and preferences.

What's inside breast implants

All breast implants have a solid silicone shell, but they are named according to what fills them. In other words, saline implants are filled with saline (sterile saltwater), while silicone implants are filled with silicone gel. With saline implants, the empty shell will be inserted first, moved into position, and then filled. Saline is sterile and harmless to the body, so in the case of a rupture your body simply absorbs the liquid with no ill effects.

Silicone implants on the other hand, are filled with a thick gel, the consistency of which has often been compared to gummy bear candy. This gooey texture helps keep the material together in the event of a rupture, which may not be detected as quickly as with saline implants.

The look and feel

Thanks to the shape of modern implants, both saline and silicone are realistic breast implants. They'll give you a pleasing look, however silicone provides a much more natural feel. This is thanks to the thick, cohesive gel that more accurately mimics the weight and bounce of natural breasts. As for saline implants, a large percentage of women who receive them compare their feel to water balloons.

If you have thin skin or are generally petite with little skin available to cover implants, silicone is much less likely to cause visible rippling or wrinkling than saline. These are usually seen on the underside and bottom of the breast. Conversely, in women with thick enough skin and ample breast tissue, the rippling effect of saline is mitigated, making it an excellent option.

In the end, how natural your implants look and feel will be a result of the talent of your surgeon, proper surgical planning, and correct implant selection. I have been able to achieve beautiful results with both saline and silicone implants.

Incisions

Scarring is an ever present concern with cosmetic surgery, especially when it comes to surgery as invasive as breast augmentation. Depending on the size of your breast implants and your anatomy, the incisions for your implants may be made in one of four locations:

• The inframmamary incision is made on the underside of the breast where it meets the torso. This incision is the most popular, and allows the best mobility when placing the implants. Suitable for both saline and silicone implants, this incision's scar is not very noticeable, and can be used again if there are any more surgeries needed in the future.
• The periareolar incision is another popular option available for both silicone and saline breast implants. This incision is made along the lower border of the areola, effectively hiding the scar in the darker tissue. Unfortunately, because of the proximity to the milk ducts within the breast, the periareolar incision's most common complication is a loss of sensation around the nipple.
• The axillary incision is made under the armpit, allowing the option to place the implant either below the muscles in the chest, or between them and the breast tissue. Due to the location of the incision, the scar can be made in a natural crease and remains hidden. This location is more commonly used for saline implants because they are inserted empty. Silicone implants can be inserted through an axillary incision, but is it not ideal when compared to other locations.
• Transumbilical incisions are the newest form of breast implant incisions. The actual cut is made along the belly button, and the implant tunnels under the skin to the breast cavity. This technique features minimal scarring, as well as a shorter, less painful recovery time. Unfortunately this location can only be used for saline implants or smaller silicone implants, makes positioning the implants very difficult and can be riskier, therefore it is not recommended.

Ruptures

Regrettably, while safe, neither saline nor silicone implants are designed to last a lifetime. It is certainly possible that you will require revision surgery at some point in the future. However, it is also possible that you will never need to replace your implants.

If your saline implant were to rupture, you'd be able to tell within a matter of hours or days. As the saline solution leaks out of its silicone shell your body will harmlessly absorb it. Deflation will be fairly obvious as the affected breast will shrink. The saline poses absolutely no risk to your health, but surgery will be necessary to remove and replace the implant shell.

If your silicone implant were to rupture, however, you may not notice symptoms for months or years, or perhaps not at all. Because of the thick consistency of the silicone gel, it usually remains trapped by the scar tissue that naturally forms around the implant after surgery. A ruptured silicone implant may eventually cause you some breast pain or discomfort, or cause changes in the shape of the affected breast. However, leaking silicone has never been linked to an increased risk of any long-term illnesses or health problems. Again, surgery will be required to replace the ruptured implant.

Cost

The final consideration when deciding on saline or silicone implants is the cost associated with each. When it comes to cost, the bottom line is that saline implants are generally less expensive, both in initial costs and over the long term. Breast implant manufacturers charge around $1,000 more for silicone implants than they do for saline. Additionally, it is recommended that women with silicone implants have an MRI three years after their initial surgery, and every two years after that. This is the only way to detect ruptures in the implant, and is often not covered by health insurance policies.

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