Silicone vs. Saline - which breast implant is safer?

In November of 2006 the FDA lifted the moratorium on the use of silicone gel implants for primary aesthetic breast augmentation. Women seeking breast augmentation may now choose between saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants, and thus it is extremely important for prospective patients to... more

Both implants are considered safe by the FDA. The patients choose between them on the basis of "feel" vs the perception of some that the saline implants are "safer" even though the data doesn't support that. They both look about the same but the gels feel more natural.

The safety studies for both implants show that both are very safe, in fact some reports suggest that the safety risk is better for silicone gel implants.  However, I think that further studies will show both equally safe in terms of capsular contracture rate, rupture rate, etc..

The choice of which type of breast implant to use is a very common one.  There are advantages and disadvantages with both, so it's very important for you to sit down with your plastic surgeon and discuss everything in detail. The short answer is they are both safe options.  Silicone implants have a... more