Is There a Sizing Difference when Switching Saline to Silicone?

asked 2 years ago by jess1520 in miami, fl
Latest answer by Braden Stridde, MD
Question viewed 1,471 times
Tags: saline implants, silicone implant, weight loss, 300-349cc, 500-549cc

I currently have saline 325s filled to 350. I have to redo my donut lift due to scarring issues and since I've lost size due to weight loss I wanted to get bigger implants while switching to silicone. My doctor recommends no less than 450 and no more than 500. I told him that i would probably go with the 500s but having second thoughts now. How big will the difference be going from 350 saline to 500 silicone? Thanks for any help.

11 answers to Is There a Sizing Difference when Switching Saline to Silicone?

Size difference when switching from saline to silicone?

In a strict sense, the volume of a 350 saline implant is the same as a 350 silicone gel implant. However, gel implants are more compliant, and tend to mold more to your tissues while saline implants tend to mold your tissues more to the implant. As a consequence, gel implants tend to look smaller than saline implants of the same volume. So if you wanted to look about the same size, typically you would go up 25-50 cc's (sometimes more) with a gel implant. Your situation is... more

Braden Stridde, MD
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon

Switching from saline to silicone

Yes, there is a difference with how silicone gel implants sit on your chest wall (projection) compared to saline implants. Silicone gel "mold" better to your chest cavity and therefore look "smaller" than the comparable saline implant. Clear communication with your plastic surgeon is important in achieving the desired goals of the patient. I like to communicate with patients with “goal” pictures. During surgery, I use temporary sizers... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Is There a Sizing Difference when Switching Saline to Silicone?

Technically there is no difference in the volume. However, in practice patients tend to feel as if the silicones are smaller and I will generally go up somewhere between 5-10%

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Implant change

When changing from saline to silicone, size for size volume they are the same. Going from 350-500 will probably add a cup size of volume.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants; Same cc Volume will NOT Necessarily give the same Look

Removing old breast implants (especially the capsule you alluded to as "scarring issues") enlarges the pocket for subsequent breast implants making the same volume implants smaller. With time, there is loss of volume of breast tissue meaning that larger implants would be required to compensate for it. On the other hand, the larger and the heavier the implants, the more they stretch the breast leading to loss of tissue and sagging. Therefore using ever larger implants rapidly... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Silicone breast implants look about 10% smaller.

Hi. 1) For your revision breast augmentation and breast lift, you would want to go a little bigger, and I think 400 cc breast implants would be reasonable. Your surgeon can put in sterile disposable sizers during surgery to see which size actually looks best. 2) 500 cc's is too big for almost every woman. Very large implants age very badly.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Saline vs Silicone Sizing

There is no significant difference between the sizes of saline and silicone implants of the same volume. This means that a 325cc saline implant is the same volume as a 325cc silicone implant. The difference lies in the fact that saline implants have a volume range but silicone implants are a definite volume which cannot be altered.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Sizing can be very similar when comparing silicone gel and saline

Each gram of silicone gel is about the same as 1 cc of saline,which is equivalent to 1cc of the silicone as well. Therefore a 350 cc saline implant can be the same as a 350 cc gel implant, or a 350 gm implant as determined by the manufacturer. I have heard rumors that the gel will appear smaller and vis versa though it is hard to substantiate in practice. When changing an implant to 'go larger' as a rule of thumb it will take about 150 cc to make a visible difference, so I agree that the... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

More conservative augment might be wiser

500 cc implants in conjunction with a redo mastopexy might be asking for trouble. the skin envelope has already been too loose twice...the weight of implants that big might well be expected to stretch it out again. even though your eyes might like the larger size breast, your breast tissues might not be able to sustain that larger look.

Bruce K. Barach, MD
Schenectady Plastic Surgeon

drbarach.com

Changing breast implant sizes

Your question cannot be answered without examining you because the surgeon would need to measure you and assess your tissues to give you a true answer. However, in general, you need to go up 100 cc's or more to notice enough size difference to be worth it.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Difference in size between saline and silicone implants

There is no difference in size between saline and silicone implants of the same cc size. There may, however, be some difference in projection depending on which implant (low, medium, high profile, etc.) you use. As far as the difference in size between a 350 cc and 500 cc implant, this varies by how large a person you are. For a woman who measures 34 in. around the chest below the breasts, the 150 cc difference should give you about a one bra cup size increase.