Which implants are better? Saline or silicone? If you ask a Plastic Surgeon from Europe or South America (where there was never a silicone ban), the easy answer is silicone. If you ask an American surgeon, you might not get the same response.
Before deciding how to proceed, consider the following pro's and con's of these implants:
SALINE:
Pro's
- slightly smaller incision
- deflations easier to detect
- less expensive
Con's
- much more prone to rippling
- less natural look & feel
SILICONE:
Pro's
- much more natural look & feel
- very little chance of rippling
Con's
- more expensive
- more difficult to detect a rupture
Considering these factors, silicone is being used in about 60% of breast augmentation cases nationwide overall. But most experts agree that as more and more women see the benefits of silicone breast augmentation, this number will continue to increase although it is doubtful that saline implants will completely go away.
I personally feel that the benefits of silicone gel implants greatly outweight those of saline and so I perform very few saline breast augmentations. My silicone gel patients tend to be very happy with the natural look and feel of their breasts following augmentation and commonly recommend these implants to their friends and family.
Interestingly, whereas I used to sit down with my patients and discuss the individual advantages and disadvantages, it seems that more women and relying on their friend's advice and support of silicone implants and come in already knowing that they want a silicone breast augmentation. I suspect that this trend will continue to grow.
