Cohesive Gel Exchange Worth It for More Natural Feel?

Had breast implants in 1995 at the age of 23 for very small breasts. Underwent sub muscular augmentation with tear drop saline implants to make me a B cup. I have been increasingly happy with the look of them with time. They have descended to a very natural position and appear very natural and flattering but have never felt natural. Have been considering exchange for anatomic cohesive gel implants. How much softer are they than saline? Would it be worth it to exchange just for this reason?

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by Scout15

Doctor Answers (14)
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Cohesive Gel Implants

Silicone implants are much softer than saline implants. If you are wanting to exchange your implants for a softer feel then it would be highly likely that you would be happier with gel implants. As far as whether or not the procedure is worth it depends on you, just remember that there are risk with any cosmetic procedure and make sure you choose a board certified plastic surgeon.

Gel vs saline

The less breast tissue you have, the more important silicone becomes to achieve a more natural result. So I would always recommend silicone first versus saline.

Exchanging To Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Most thin patients with long-standing saline breast implants will be happy with the exchange to silicone implants if they are bothered by the feel of the rippling or if they simply feel too soft. With today's more cohesive (high strength form-stable) silicone gels (Sientra implants currently) there will be no rippling and they will have a more firm feel. (not softer)

Shaped implants not the most natural feel

First a few things to know: all silicone gel implants use a cohesive gel fill, meaning that it holds together as a semisolid. The gel in shaped implants (also called form-stable, anatomic, gummy bear) is quite firm in oder to hold the shape so they are not as soft as the gel in round implants (which also naturally form a teardrop profile in the upright position.) The only form-stable implants available in the U.S. at this time are from Sientra. Round gell implants are still the best choice... more

Cohesive Gel Exchange Worth It for More Natural Feel?

Your anatomic Saline implants were textured and most of those didn't feel the best. The next generation of anatomic gel implants (410 Allergan, Mentor CPG) are also textured and not yet available in the US, except at trial centers. It is a bit more firm than the current Cohesive Gel implants that are not anatomic shaped but very soft...So....most women today that I see in your situation go to the current round smooth cohesive gel implants and are very happy with the feel... more

Replacing saline breast implants with gel

Gel implants are softer, more natural, and have fewer wrinkling/rippling complications as compared to saline. Gel implants conform nicely to your chest and feel natural to the touch and when you lie on your stomach. They are warranteed for life. Saline inplants begin to fail after about 10 years due to valve leakage and crease-folding. Exchange to gel is a great idea for comfort and for long term stalbility.

Cohesive Gel Implant exchange for saline implants

You most definitely will get a more natural feel by changing your current saline implants (anatomical) to cohesive gel implants. Additionally, it is not necessary to stay with anatomical or "teardrop" implants, as one can get a very natural and soft result with a smooth round gel implant as well, given that the surgeon who performs the revision creates the new "pocket" appropriately. You do not have to necessarily stay with an anatomical implant... more

Cohesive Gel Implants are not necessarily softer that Saline Implants

It sounds like you have a wonderful result, with which you are highly satisfied, so I wouldn't be in a rush to change your implants. There is a lot of confusion about the term "cohesive gel implants." All of the current generation silicone gel implants are much more cohesive than those of previous generations. This means that if you were to cut the shell with a pair of scissors, the gel inside would largely retain its form. In the past, with earlier... more

Choice of switching out saline for gel filled implants is entirely optional at this point

You have had a good result with your saline filled implants. If you are not having any problems with them and you like the feel and shape then there is really no reason to undergo an additional surgical procedure at this time. If one of the implants ever ruptures then you may decide to switch to a new styled gel filled implant. Many of our patients make this choice but it is entirely optional . If you have sufficient soft tissue over your saline filled implants then... more

Silicone implants feel softer than saline implants

Silicone implants feel softer but how much softer is difficult to determine. Your old saline implants can have various amounts of fill... if overfilled, they can feel very hard, if under filled they can feel very soft and watery. It would be helpful to know whether or not your implants are overfilled or not. Then you should see a board certified plastic surgeon and compare the feel of a silicone and saline implants and see if you feel the difference is worth the extra... more

Cohesive Gel Exchange Worth It for More Natural Feel?

Your question is a fairly common one and it is hard to know what the best answer for you is. I will say that I have seen a fair number of patients over the years that have traded their saline implants for silicone gel and they have been extremely happy with the more natural feel. So I think if you are happy with the size and shape of the ones you have you should speak with someone in your area who does a lot of breast surgery and get their thoughts. I would caution you against using... more

Implant exchange

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. If you are generally happy with the appearance, I would suggest sticking with what you have. Being saline implants, if they happen to leak in the future, you can take that opportunity to change the type of implant. But it often does not pay to "chase the imperfections" of implants. That is, your concern with naturalness in terms of feel, while theoretically better with silicone gel, cannot be guaranteed since silicone gel implants... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Soft

Cohesive implants are not soft. For the most natural feel user round silicone implants. The cohesive are much firmer -- which is why they are called gummy bear implants.

Implant exchange for softness

Many have an opinion, but are cohesive silicone gel implants softer than saline implants? You current implants are at the end of life if you have had them since 1995, and a new saline might be softer than the teardrop, and a cohesive gel might be also, though the softest implant will be one that is least cohesive and has more give and flow.