What Do Breast Implants Feel Real? Doctor Answers, Tips
Breast Implants: Q&A
Ask a Question

What Do Breast Implants Feel Real?

Do breast implants feel real? Do they feel hard?

30 Doctor Answers | Asked by xklorx in WI
+7

Breast Implant feel depends on at least 6 factors

Dear xklorx, The way a breast feels after breast augmentation will vary depending on a number of factors: Silicone vs saline.  Silicone implants tend to feel more realistic than saline (all factors begin equal) because of the properties of silicone gel being more 'flesh-like'. Saline is soft, but has more or a 'water balloon' type softness Type of silicone implant. The high cohesive gel implants ('gummy bear implants') are firmer than... more
+4

It's not the implant, it's how they are used

If you are talking about implants sitting on the table, the saline imlpants feel like a water balloon and the silicone implants feel like cooked oatment. However how they feel in a breast depends on a number of things. If the implants are working the way they should, the saline implant will generally start out feeling a bit more firm than a silicone implant which may be virtually undectable by feel. Over a period of time, more of the silicone implants will more often become more firm than... more
+3

This depends on multiple factors

Breast implants can feel very natural, or can feel like a "bag of water". This depends on multiple factors. First of all, Silicone implants absolutely feel much more natural than Saline implants. This is a fact. Secondly, the larger a woman's breasts are to begin with, the less palpable the implant will be after surgery. And third, if an implant is placed under the muscle, there is one more layer of tissue covering the implant, essentially making it more hidden and less palpable.... more

You might also like...

Real Stories

Breast Augmentation In Tijuana B.C Mexico HELP!! - Mexico, MX

Hello everyone. Im 21 and have a son whos 4 and to all you ladies that have had children,...

Before + After Photos

View 4161 Breast Implants photos
+3

Three things affecting Breast Implant feel

Great question. The answer is, it depends. There are three things to consider when thinking about how implants feel. First - Where has the implant been placed. Typically, breast augmentation is done "below the muscle". This means that the implant is usually placed in a subpectoral plane. This provides a significant amount of camoflage for the implant (you feel skin, subcutaneous fat and breast tissue and muscle before you feel the implant). The qualifier here is that it is rare... more
+3

Feel of breast implants varies from person to person.

The feel of a breast implant varies from person to person. Many factors come into play. Some factors include the amount of breast tissue a person already has to cover the implants, whether or not the implants will be on top of the muscle, entirely under the muscle, or partially under the muscle; whether they are saline implants or silicone implants; the quality and thickness of the skin, etc... In general, silicone implants will feel more "natural" than saline implants. ... more
+3

Breast Implants Can Look and Feel Natural

Most surgeons agree that silicone gel breast implants, in general, tend to feel more natural than saline breast implants. However, the degree to which this difference is significant varies a great deal with regard to two issues: the amount of breast tissue that exists prior to augmentation, and the size of the implant that is used. The more natural feel of a silicone gel implant will be much more important to patients who are slender and fit in an A cup bra preoperatively, as they have less... more
+2

Breast Implants Should Feel Natural

Breast implants are intended to feel real. The achievement of this goal will depend on placement (submuscular placement generally leads to a more natural feel), patient specific factors (body fat percentage and amount of native breast tissue), and type of implant used (silicone generally feels more natural than saline). Breast implants that feel hard or are painful are the result of capsular contracture, a not infrequent complication following breast augmentation surgery.  more
+2

Breast Implants Feel Real

Breast implants should feel real. Hard feeling breasts result from capsule contracture: implants do not get hard, but if the space for the implant in the breast shrinks down and tightens around the implant, the implant will feel unnaturally firm. It is important to do all that can be done to prevent capsule contracture.  In my practice, I recommend: avoiding any medications or supplements that can thin the blood for 14 days before surgery submuscular placement... more
+1

Natural Feeling Implants

Satisfaction rates following breast augmentation are related to how the breast implants look and feel. Women, not only want their breasts to look good following breast enlargement, but also want them to feel natural. Several factors are associated with more natural feeling breasts. These include, the type of implant fill material used, the position of the implant relative to the pectoralis muscle, the amount of native breast tissue and the size of the breast implants used... more
+1

Breast Implant Feel

Thank you for your question. There are many different factors impacting the feel of an augmented breast. First, is the type of implant (saline vs. silicone). Saline implants tend to feel more firm and more like a bag of water. In an attempt to minimize saline implant rippling, saline implants are often overfilled which increases their firmness. Silicone gel implants are softer and as a result feel more natural. The second factor to consider is pocket... more
+1

Silicone implants feel much more real relative to saline implants.

There are many other factors that contribute to how real silicone implants feel. The less breast tissue a patient has the more likely the implant is palpable. Silicone implants come in different degrees of cohesiveness. The more cohesive the silicone the harder the implant feels. If the real fee is of a concern to you, you must discuss that with your surgeon.
+1

What Do Breast Implants Feel Real

The silicone breast implants feel soft and very similar to breast tissue. Under the chest muscle (pectoralis) they will feel very natural. However, saline implants feel more like a bag containing water. Under the muscle, they feel similar to breast tissue but not as good as silicone implants.
+1

What Do Breast Implants Feel Real

The silicone breast implants have the closest feel to human breast tissue. If you already have some breast tissue and the implants are placed under the muscle then they will feel natural. If you have saline implants they will feel like a bag of water.
+1

Do Breast Implants Feel Real?

Dear xklorx, Breast implants can be made to feel quite real. It depends on several factors, including native breast tissue volume, plane of placement, implant fill material, and implant surface choice. Generally, the smooth silicone implants feel the most natural. I would add that certain implant companies offer different grades of silicone cohesiveness. Each level of increasing cohesiveness feels more and more firm. I suggest going to see a plastic... more
+1

Natural Feel of Breast Implants

Most breast implants will feel natural, but it depends on the type of implant, the location, the position, and if the patient has an adequate amount of breast tissue, one can have natural looking breasts with implants above or below the muscle as long as they are not overly sized or have a base diameter which is not out of proportion to one’s base diameter, shape and amount of breast parenchyma.
+1

What do Breast implants feel like

Breast implants can feel very natural.  The more natural breast tissue you have, the less likely you are able to feel the implants, particularly the Silicone implants.  It is not uncommon to feel some "rippling" or surface irregularity with Saline implants on the sides, if the implants are behind the muscle.  This rippling may be visible if you are  very thin and/or the Saline  implants are on top of the muscle. The saline implants feel more firm than... more
+1

Breast implant feel

Breast implants come in various shapes, texture, and sizes.  The are made of saline or silicone.   Saline implants are firm, while silicone feels more soft and pliable.  During a consultation with a board certifed surgeon, you will be able to sample implants. 
+1

Breast implants feel real

The final texture of augmented breasts depends on several variables.  Most significant among these is the percentage of your final breast volume that is implant vs. the percentage that is your own breast tissue.  The higher percentage of the final volume that is implant, the more your breast will look and feel like an implant (not necessarily bad).  Other variables include whether or not the implant is subglandular or submuscular, how lean you are, and whether the implant... more
+1

Possible to look natural? Yes.

Breast implants can look very natural and many women have results in which people cannot tell that they have had plastic surgery. It is important to be comfortable in your decision and make sure that you find the surgeon and the facility that you are comfortable with. Make sure your surgeon is board certified and ask to see pictures of their work. Many facilities keep a book of before and after pictures.
+1

Like Breasts

Breast implants feel like breasts.  Rarely they become firm and need treatment .  My last long term study published in ASJ Dec 2009 of 1012 implants had a contracture rate of less than 3 percent. the gummy bear or cohesive gel implants have even a lower rate.  This month we are publishing a study of Silimed implants with less that 2 percent capsular contreacture rate.   Check out the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.   
+1

Breast Implants Feeling Natural

The answer to your question is yes breast implants can feel very natural and look very natural as well. The patient has the choice of choosing saline vs silicone implants. During your consultation you should discuss which implants will give you the most natural look and feel.
+1

Feel of breast implants

It depends on how much breast tissue you have to cover the implant. If you have very little breast tissue, a saline implant will feel like a bag filled with water with rippling and feeling the implant edge. Silicone implants will have a natural feel.
+1

Natural feeling Breast Implants

The most important part of considering breast augmentation, is find a board certified plastic surgeon to perform your surgery and offer you the best advice for you. Many women want breast enhancement, but they all have very unique cases. It is important to understand the differences between saline and silicone implants and which patients would be better candidates for whcih implant. Your plastic surgeon can easily provide a natural-looking and feeling breast augmentation. Since the... more
+1

Breast Augmentation Natural Feel

Breast augmentation with saline and silicone implants can feel very natural, but this all depends on the amount of breast tissue, type of implant, and the amount of capsular contracture.
+1

Feel of breast implants

It depends upon the type of implant. Saline implants in general feel  more firm while silicone gel implants are softer, probably closer to the feel of a real breast.
+1

Breast implants should feel like natural breasts.

In the good results, breast implants feel like normal breasts. There can be two complications that can make breast implants feel less natural. About 5% of patients will develop capsular contracture which causes some firmness around the implant. In this case, the implants do not feel hard, but they feel firmer than typical breast tissue. I tell my patients that a breast with capsular contracture may feel more like your thigh, which is usually firmer than the typical breast. ... more
+1

Breast implants can feel very much like real breast...

Breast implants can feel very much like real breast tissue. This is especially true of the new silicone gel implants. The saline implants also feel reasonably "real" but feel better in patients with more breast tissue and who are not too thin. The saline implants feel better if they are not too overfilled, at which point they begin to feel hard. This is often the case when saline has been placed above the muscle and overfilled to minimize the wrinkles and ripples that might be... more
+1

Breast implants should feel natural

Breast implants generally feel quite natural and real. Some patients like the feel of silicone over saline but that varies considerably from patient to patient. Hardness of the breast implants is usually of capsular contracture. With any sign of hardness, you should return to surgeon for evaluation.
+1

The feel of an implant

Breast implants can feel quite real. Silicone gel implants tend to have a more natural feel than saline implants, but both types can look and feel real. Hard implants are a sign of a problem, likely capsular contracture (tightening of scar tissue around the implant).
+1

Breast implants- feel

The more breast tissue you have the less you will feel the implant. Saline tend to be more palpable and can feel like water balloons if you are very thin, expecially at the lower border of the breast. Silicone gel filled implants tend to feel more like natural breasts as compared to the saline filled ones.
Doctors will not see your comments on their answers. If you'd like to follow up, please go here to ask another question.

Comments (0)

Ask a Question

Welcome Back

Sign in with Facebook

Your information remains private and will not be posted without your permission.

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account? Create one now.

Join RealSelf

Join with Facebook

Your information remains private and will not be posted without your permission.

Please enter a valid email address
 Did you mean ?

By creating an account, you are indicating that you have read and accept the RealSelf Terms of Use.

Already a member? Sign In.

Retrieve your password

Enter your username or email address and we will send you a link to login.

Check your email

Check your email. We've sent you a link to reset your password.

Ok