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Silicone Breast Implants Vs. Saline - How to Choose?

Which are better, silicone breast implants or saline breast implants?

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Saline Breast Implants : The Basics

Saline implants: the basics Both Silicone and Saline Implants can look and feel natural. In the time since the moratorium was lifted, gel implants have gone from being used in my practice on rare occasion to being used in almost all the breast augmentations I perform. Patient satisfaction has been excellent and I have been very pleased with the performance of the new ‘cohesive’ gel material. However, most of my patients with saline implants, before silicone implants... more

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Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

In any market in the world, Silicone beats Saline EVERY TIME!

Just look at the sales figures for SALINE implants vs SILICONE IMPLANTS anywhere in the world where both implant types are legally present for sale. Silicone out sells Saline implants EVERY TIME. That means, in mature markets, WOMEN DECIDE TO BUY SILICONE MORE OFTEN. You can make up your own mind why that might be, but it suggests to me that Silicone implants out sell Saline implants because they are more desirable. In my 20 plus years of experience, I was... more

Claudio DeLorenzi, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Silicone or Saline Implants

Both are excellent implants. Silicone implants are a gel, so the feel softer. If softness is a priority, or if you were very thin, most are guided toward silicone. Saline is also a good choice. They are a little firmer, they are also less expensive. Best to see a few board certified plastic surgeons. Take photos with you and please have reasonable expectations. Together you will make an appropriate choice for you.

Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Saline or silicone breast implants

There are pros and cons to each type of implant. Saline implants usually have more rippling, stretch the tissues more, are heavier and feel firmer. Advantages-very simple to replace if they leak. Silicone implants have less rippling, are lighter, feel very natural, and stretch tissues less. Silicone implants require more surgery to remove if they are leaking. In addition, the FDA recommends periodic MRI exams to determine if the implants are leaking; this may or may not be covered by... more

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Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Silicone and saline implants are both safe for human use...

Silicone and saline implants are both safe for human use and will achieve your desired results of fuller, more shapely or more symmetric breasts. The FDA requires that patients be at least 22 years old to have silicone implants, but overall it is ultimately your choice. Saline implants are great for patients who have slight asymmetry in their breasts because it can be corrected with different amounts of saline solution being injected into the implants. Silicone implants have a closer... more

Jennifer Walden, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The better breast implant

If there was truely one implant that is better than the other...there would be only one implant available . Each implant has its pro's and con's that you must accept. Silicone feels and looks more natural and ripples less. Saline feels and looks a little less natural and ripples more. The incision is smaller with saline and bigger with silicone. If the saline implant ruptures you know because your breast becomes smaller, if silicone ruptures it is called 'silent' bec more

Arthur Cambeiro, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

"Risk" versus "Feel" for the most part

Hello, Silicone gel implants are filled with a "jelly like" silicone substance to which the body reacts more over time. They come filled at one size and are not adjustable in the operating room. Saline implants are more adjustable and this allows better sizing during surgery. Long term capsules (scar formation with hardening) is more commonly a problem with silicone gel implants. The FDA recommendations are that patients with silicone gel implants have breast MRIs every two years... more

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

A difficult choice between silicone and saline implants

The first thing most people don't realize is that both implants have a silicone outer layer. The difference then is what the implant is filled with. Typically saline implants are about 1000 dollars less then silicone. In my office, I have every breast augmentation patient pick up both implants (even if they have pre-selected one type) so they can feel the difference. Often patients have an instinctual or "gut" reaction to one or the other, and then further discussion and a pro and... more

Pramit Malhotra, MD

Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

Patients must educate themselves in the pros and cons of each implant and then decide which they prefer.

I find that many individuals considering breast augmentation are in the dark about which implant to choose between saline and gel. Most of their uncertainty stems from a lack of knowledge about either implant. I try to give them a list of the pros and cons of each implant. It is then up to each individual to decide between the two. In my experience there is very little difference in appearance between the two. If you placed a gel implant in one breast and a saline in the other it would be... more

David A. Ross, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Which breast implants to choose?

Talk to your doctor. Sometimes, the patient can choose (they will have the same beautiful result with either type of implant) and sometimes the patient HAS to have silicone gel breast implants to get a nice result. Usually, the patients' who NEED to get silicone gel breast implants are the patients who have very little body fat / very little breast tissue to cover the implants. Silicone gel breast implants are softer so if the patient doesnt have the breast tissue to cover the implants, it... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Saline vs. Silicone breast implants

Both saline and silicone implants will give you a beautiful, natural result. Silicone implants feel softer and more natural like normal breast tissue. Saline implants tend to be more firm and ripple more than silicone. However, if you have a decent amount of natural breast tissue like a B or C cup, the difference between saline and silicone will be much less obvious. If you are very thin and have no breast tissue, silicone implants will look and feel more natural... more

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Stanley Castor, MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Choosing a silicone or saline implant

The safety issue of Silicone has been put to rest. If you are satisfied with all the studies that have shown that silicone does not cause any illnesses, then your choice becomes what you like better. You should hold a saline and silicone implant and see which one feels better. You should understand that saline implants ripple a lot more than silicone however if you are not very skinny and if your implants are placed under the muscle, the difference in rippling is less... more

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Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Silicone versus saline breast implants

Both are fantastic options in the right patient! Every patient is an individual and brings individual anatomy and desires to the consultation. The previous threads have provided great information, but I really think it is MOST important to discuss ALL of your options with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. He/she will be able to examine you, perform specific measurements and discuss your needs, concerns and wants. This FACE TO FACE information is invaluable...see as many surgeons as you... more

John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Common question - silicone vs. saline

This is a question I review in every breast augmentation consultation. First, Saline and Silicone gel implants are both great options. They are both FDA approved and safe. Both are safe medical devices, but of course, no medical devices last forever. In terms of the quality of your results... in skilled hands, patients get excellent results with both saline and silicone gel implants. To achieve a soft natural result, the key is to camouflage the implant. If there is a lot of breast... more

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C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Depends on your build

Advantages of saline Less expensive (about $1000 less) Adjustability Shorter scar (my scar is 1" long) No silent ruptures - if they deflate/ rupture, there is no guessing or worrying More volume choices - based on the patients optimal implant diameter and choice of implant size Can be used in women under 22 years of age Advantages of silicone More natual feeling Less risk of rippling Generally silicone implants are ideal for the very thin patient with small breasts. In the larger... more

York Jay Yates, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Silicone vs Saline

There are definitely differences. The bottom line is if you want a better feel, Silicone gel implants are the choice. If you are concerned about cost, then Saline implants are the choice. Here are some more details. Incision - Saline is less than silicone (1.5in vs 2in) - silicone implants are prefilled and therefore require a larger incision for placement, saline implants are placed empty and then filled so a smaller incision can be used. Rippling - Saline has more rippling than silicone -... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Saline versus Silicone Implants

SALINE SILICONE Adjustable volume Fixed volume Absorbed if ruptured Not absorbed (silent rupture) Rupture is obvious Rupture may require MRI MRI advised at 3 yrs & every 2yrs FDA approved use over 18 FDA approved use over 22 Less expensive More expensive ~ 3 cm incision ~ 5 cm incision More dense more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

First of all, you need to meet with highly qualified...

First of all, you need to meet with highly qualified American Board of Plastic Surgery certified surgeons. They will help you understand the differences between saline and silicone implants so you can feel comfortable with your choice. The implants share the same silicone outer shell and are just filled with a different material. In your hands, they will feel dramatically different and you will probably like the feel of the gel better. Once in the body, however, unless you are very thin... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

One consideration is choice of scar. I do a lot of...

One consideration is choice of scar. I do a lot of transumbilical breast augmentation where the implants are inserted through the belly button, the only scar you are born with, so there are no new scars and certainly nothing visible. Only saline implants can be placed using this approach, however. Silicone implants must be inserted making an incision under the breast, around the nipple, or in the armpit.

Edmond A. Zingaro, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Saline or Silicone Implants?

Just to echo Dr DeLorenzi's comments, I work in the UK and we have always been allowed to use silicone implants. As a result, we very rarely use saline implants.

Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Pros and cons of saline and silicone gel implants

There is no perfect implant. If there were, we wouldn't be debating saline vs. silicone gel. Silicone gel implants are usually better cosmetically in women with minimal breast tissue and minimal subcutaneous fat (i.e. if your ribs are all visible, you may want to consider silicone. Silicone has the advantages of more natural feel and reduced rippling relative to saline. Saline has the advantage of a lower price (at least $1000 lower), smaller scars (3 cm with saline and about 5.5 cm with... more

Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Saline versus silicone implants

Neither implant is "better" than the other, only different. To start, both implants consist of the same outer shell. This shell is made of a silicone polymer to make it flexible. The difference begins with what they are filled with, and how much they are filled. To make it easier to understand, here are the advantages and disadvantages of silicone implants and saline implants: Silicone gel implant Advantages: More natural "feel" Lighter than saline on a... more

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David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Selecting silicone or saline depends on preference

Both silicone and saline implants are approved for use for cosmetic procedures by the FDA. When it comes to selecting an implant, it is up to preference. Many patients find silicone implants to look and feel more natural than a saline implant. However, if performed by a qualified plastic surgeon both types of implants can have a natural looking result. Saline implants can show rippling if not placed under the muscle, but most surgeons including myself place the implant under the muscle for... more

Tarick K. Smaili, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Saline vs Silicone "We use both"

Both Saline and Silicone are used in our facility. In consultation both types of implants are discussed in detail. We also discuss sizing ,recovery and show before and after photos. Implant sizers are also available for the clients to try on during consultation. Our goal is to make sure that we have addressed all issues regarding breast augmentation surgery. See our website for special pricing on breast augmentation thru April 2010.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Silicone vs saline Breast implants- How to choose

Silicone- Pro- Feel more natural, less likely to show wrinkling Con- need slightly larger incision. More expensive. Saline- Pro- Cheaper, more choice of access incisions(Trans umbilical, trans axillary) Con- can deflate, feels less natural. Short answer- If it was my daughter or wife, I'd go with silicon. Check out the link below for a video on implant placement, and a more detailed discussion on saline vs silicon see video