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Are Silicone Implants Heavier Than Saline?

asked 7 months ago by anon
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 637 times
Tags: breasts, saline implants, silicone implant, weight

I'm curious if there's a weight difference between silicone and saline breast implants.

15 answers to Are Silicone Implants Heavier Than Saline?

Silicone versus saline breast implants

Silicone implants are softer, less dense and lighter volume for volume than saline breast implants. The saline implants are heaver because water is dense.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

Weight of gel and saline implants

Gel implants actually weigh less than saline but the difference, particularly in the smaller implants is insignificant. There are much more important factors that should enter a decision on which implants to use. Talk with your board certified surgeon who can explain these differences.

Margaret Skiles, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

Which implant is heavier?

Gel implants the same cc volume as saline feel lighter. Most of the time this is not critical. However, when the patient wants a larger implant or if the patient is also having a mastopexy I prefer a gel implant in those situations.

Ann F. Reilley, MD
Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgerybr.com

Silicone vs. Saline weight

The difference between the two is negligible. Gel implants are more dense, it's minimal. Silicone implants do tend to feel and look more natural than saline implants. However, it's all personal preference. Both implants are great.

Jeffrey Hartog, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Weight of silicone vs saline?

I am in total agreement with the panel of surgeons who feel that the differences are negligible. More importantly is what is your frame like?. How wide you are?, how much breast tissue will be covering those implants?, What is the height and width of the areola?. How tall you are? Will you be better suited for over vs under the pectoral muscles? A lot of planning goes into the correct algorithm for each patient. Good Luck.

Charles Virden, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.virdenmd.com

Silicone implants are lighter than saline!

I was surprised to learn this myself, but the same volume in the 2 different implants equates to a lighter silicone implant! This may not be such a difference though that you would perceive it. It should not impact your decision if there are other factors that are important to you: the feel of the implant, the risk of rippling with saline, the thin-ness of your skin and volume of your existing breast tissue (if you are thin and small, silicone may be better option).

Michele A. Shermak, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Implant weight

A 300cc implant whether it is a silicone or a saline filled implant, will weigh about the same. Choose the impalnts you want based upon your personal comfort level and the benefits and risks of each.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Yes they are

No there are not difference between a silicone gel implant an a saline one. But there is a little bit difference in density; silicone viscoelastic gel is "heavier" tham a saline one (1.06 : 099). The most iportant concern with an implant is it's measures: width, height and projection. It is really very difficult to tell the difference of an implant according to the filling of (f.e.) a 300cc (grs.) implant. You will never notice the difference... but be sure yo would... more

Enrique Etxeberria, MD
Spain Plastic Surgeon

Silicone gel implants weight a bit less than saline implants

This issue is not really an important consideration when selecting a breast implant for cosmetic augmentation - both implants weigh about the same, with silicone gel weighing a bit less per volume than saline implants.

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Silcone and saline implant weights

The difference in weight between the implants is insignificant. The true difference is in the feel of the implants at the time of implantation. After six months, the saline implants soften up and the feel is almost identical.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Silicone Implants do not Weigh more than Saline

Hi there- Equal volume silicone implants do not weigh more than saline implants. In fact, the gel within them is slightly less dense than saline solution, although this is such a small difference as to make it undetectable by most women.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Silicone and Saline weigh about the same

The specific Gravity of Saline is about 1.04, and the specific gravity of Silicone is about .95-.97 depending on the manufacturer and the generation of the gel, and cohesive nature of the silicone. These are almost the same, so you will not really be able to tell the difference between the two based on weight alone. The fluid differences and the ripples are the larger differences between saline and silicone.

Dan Mills, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.danmillsmd.com

There is minimal weight difference

The reason to pick saline or silicone gel implant has nothing to do with the weight of the implants. Your plastic surgeon should help you in making the right choice for your body.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Weight difference

There is hardly any weight difference between silicone gel and saline-maybe a few ounces less for the gels, but almost imperceptible

Edward J. Bednar, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.drbednar.com

Saline or Silicone Breast Implants Heavier?

Thank you for the question. Saline and silicone implants have almost identical weights, with silicone gel implants weighing slightly less. I hope this helps.