Saline Breast Implants on Thin Patients?

I am 19 years old and want to get breast implants. I am thin and do not have a lot of breast tissue. I am a size 32 A. I have heard saline implants are not good for thin skin because there will be rippling. I really want to get them soon and not have to wait until I'm 22 to get silicone implants. Can I still get good results with saline with no rippling, or would it be better if i waited until 22 to get silicone? Thank you!

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by Sarah1972 in Los Angeles,CA

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Saline and rippling

Rippling is more common with thinner patients because there is not enought soft tissue coverage. This can happen with both saline and silicone.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Saline Breast Implants on Thin Patients? Not a yes or no answer

The use of saline implants in thin patients is not a yes or no answer and neither is it related to one point in time. What works now, may or may not work 5 years from now with changes inyour body. If you plan on having children in the near future, I would defer this.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

For many patients saline implants are an excellent choice.

Many patients with saline implants are very happy with their choice. For years that was the only implant we had available. The implant pushes the breast tissue forward so what you feel is the breast tissue not the implant. This is especially true for smaller implants. Putting the implant under the muscle also gives another layer of coverage for the upper portion of the implant. There are other factors to consider - smooth implants may have less rippling than textured for example. ... more

Saline implants can work very well in thin individuals

One of the drawbacks to the saline breast implant has been the tendency to show ripple, especially for those with very thin cover over the implant. Submuscular placement has solved the problem in the upper portion of the breast, however the implant still may be detectable in the lower portion and to the side of the breast. Despite this potential, patients with a saline implant enjoy a very low capsular contracture rate, and are not burdened with the thought of future MRI studies to... more

Saline implants and thin patients

Remember that before Nov 2006 all we had available for a breast augmentation was saline implants. Therefore, many thin patients had saline implants placed with excellent results. Of course, silicone is a better choice but you have to consider your desires for timing of the surgery vs. the feel of the implant. If you choose an appropriately sized saline implant which is placed behind the muscle, you will have a good result and can have your surgery now. Use of silicone gel implants for... more

You must be 22 years old to have silicone breast augmentation

The FDA has reallowed silicone breast implants to be used in women for cosmetic breast augmentation, but you must be 22 years of age to have surgery. All implants in thin women carry the risk of rippling or the implant being visible or palpable (the ability to feel the implant beneath the skin). Sometimes, the implant is placed in a partially submuscular position to decrease the risk of the upper pole of the implant from being visible. So long as the augmentation result fits your... more