Which is better: Cohesive Silicone Implants or Ideal Saline Implants?

Natural feel is not the only thing women care about. The FDA approved intact silicone gel implants as safe. However, if a gel implant ruptures the implant and any gel should be removed including the surrounding capsule (capsulectomy). IDEAL® IMPLANT offers women natural feel without the risk of silent rupture. Women value the advantages of IDEAL® IMPLANT over silicone gel:Rupture AdvantagesNo silent rupturesSaline absorbed, free Silicone Gel remainsNo MRI needed to detect rupturesLook in the mirror to know implants are intactEasy to remove and replaced if rupturedFiller AdvantagesOnly saline inside for peace of mindSafety of salineNo silicone gel in the bodyClinical AdvantagesYouthful shape/contourLower capsule contracture rateHigher rupture strengthLow rupture rate

More women tend to choose
silicone breast implants due to the natural feel and appearance. Cohesive Silicone
implants are now made of a gel which are anti-leak even when cut. It
is often called “gummy-bear like”. #Silicone implants are also the preferred choice for over the muscle placement. Also, silicone
implants require a larger incision than saline, because they are pre-filled.Although, the new generation of silicone implants are far superior than those used in the past and have a
proven track record of safety, some prefer an alternative. This is where the #IdealImplant comes in. It was created
for women who are not comfortable having silicone implants in their body, but
desire a more natural feeling implant than traditional saline implants on the
market. The unique structure of the Ideal Implant allows for a similar
look and feel as silicone with the safety of #saline.Your choice of silicone or saline will also determine the incision site for which the implant is to be placed.

Hello Thank you for your question. Both implants have their pros and cons. Silicone is the softest and smoothest feeling implant on the market. However the ideal implant comes very close. The pro to the ideal implant is that there is never any worry about a silent rupture and the need for an MRI. I have further information about the pros and cons of the ideal implant. Check out my link below to better help answer your questions. Best regards

Hello, each implant type has unique advantages and disadvantages so in my opinion there is no "better" implant.  That stated, it is generally felt that silicone implants are less prone to rippling.  Saline implants are less expensive and adjustable during surgery, which can be an advantage in cases of asymmetry.  Your surgeon can explain the pros and cons in detail, specific to you.

HelloThanks for your question. I don't think that there is one better than the other; they are different. As you know, the Ideal Implant is a newer saline implant that seeks to decrease some of the downsides of saline implants such as rippling, palpability, etc, while preserving the upside, which is ease of management if there is a leak. I've included a link that summarizes Health Canada's approval of the Ideal Implant, although there are a limited number of surgeon in Canada offering the device at present. You'll note that it is approved for women 18 and older.Silicone gel implants have a longer history and are more widely used. The data will be more robust, with much larger studies. Gel implants are often less prone to rippling, and feel and look more natural than saline (although Ideal implant seeks to replicate this). Gel implants are approved for women 22 and older, so gel implants at your age would constitute an off-label use. This is still commonly done, but may void the silicone implant warranty because of the off-label use.There are lots of things to think about, so it would be worthwhile for you to have an in-person consultation with an experienced surgeon.Best wishes-

The difference between implants is a matter of personal preference and the implants' complication profile.  I see you live in Canada, and the law may be different there, but in the States, the use of silicone implants is not FDA approved in patients younger than 22.  That doesn't mean it cannot be done, just that it is "off-label."   The Ideal implant claims to have the feel of a silicone implant without the risk of silicone extrusion.  The details of each is best discussed with a board certified plastic surgeon who can thoroughly discuss both your goals and preferences as well as assess you anatomy to determine the best option for you.  Best of luck!

It's hard to compare these types of implants directly and say which is "best," because they very are different, and they will behave differently.  They will give slightly different appearances, and they will interact with the tissues differently.  In addition, we have to remember that we don't just have "cohesive silicone" implants any longer, we have highly cohesive gel implants ("gummy bear"), and those come in round and anatomically shaped versions.  Thus, there will be some cases in which a certain type of gel implant will be best, while in others, a saline implant will accomplish the stated goals and do the job well.  So, the bottom line is that the answer to this question depends almost entirely on what the specific goals are.  In general, saline implants are also less expensive than silicone gel implants, and if cost effectiveness is a primary goal, then that may contribute to the decision of which is "best."In the way of some comparison, however, I think it's useful to look at the statistical performance of different breast implants to gain some insight into how they perform over time.  This may be part of the consideration of which is "best" too.  You can find the numbers on the websites of all of the manufacturers, so I won't bore you with an exhaustive list of all of these, nor will I cite the numbers of each manufacturer.  As an example, I'll mention 3 variables that I think are important to consider when evaluating implant performance statistically, and I'll use the Ideal implant numbers for themselves and the corresponding statistics from Sientra for comparison.  The Ideal implant is fundamentally a saline implant.  It is a newer design on an old concept of a saline implant with different baffles and chambers containing the saline within the implant (sort of analogous to a "waveless waterbed" as opposed to a single bladder waterbed where the water is contained in one big floppy chamber).  Three of the variables that I think are important to look at when comparing saline to silicone gel implants are:  reoperation rate, deflation/rupture rate, and rippling/palpability/visibility.  The numbers provided by the Ideal implant company show a reoperation rate from all causes of 14% over 2 years, and Sientra reports a reoperation rate of 12% over 3 years.  The rates are close, but be aware that Sientra's numbers are based on 3 years and not 2 years, and the number of patients studied was over 1000, whereas it was only 100 in the Ideal implant group.  Thus, the real rate may be a bit higher for the Ideal group over time and more patients; it's still early to tell for sure.  With regard to rupture or deflation, typical of all saline implants, the Ideal implants showed a deflation rate of 5% over 2 years, whereas there was only a 2.5% rupture rate in the Sientra group, again over 1000 patients in 3 years.  Most surgeons agree that one of the disadvantages of saline implants is that they rupture or deflate a bit more frequently than silicone gel, and the Ideal implant design doesn't seem to change this relationship much.  Lastly, another one of the main distinguishing features between silicone and saline implants is wrinkling or rippling.  The Ideal implant reports a 4% rate of this over 2 years, whereas Sientra reports 0.5% over 3 years, again in 10 times more patients.  I know this number crunch seems a bit complicated, but it is part of the analysis that we surgeons go through when answering this type of question relating to which implants are "best."  Again, these numbers are available online, and in much more detail than I have presented here; I have only given you a brief example of the way that I go about this analysis.In summary, I would say the Ideal implant may be the answer for some people depending upon their individual goals and expectations, while looking at the issue from another perspective, they may not seem as good as a cohesive, or a highly cohesive gel implant.  My best advice is to consult with board certified plastic surgeons who have experience with all different types of breast implants and breast augmentation techniques, so that you can figure out what the best implant is for your personal goals.  In addition to being certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, your surgeon should also voluntarily participate in the Maintenance of Certification program administered by that board. This is the best way to know that your surgeon not only has the best training and experience for the procedure, but that he or she has maintained currency in the certification requirements as opposed to practicing on a "lifetime" certificate which has only been reviewed once at the beginning of his or her career. For more information on this you can visit ABplsurg.org or ABMS.org. Good luck.

Hello. Thank you for your inquiry.
You may be an excellent candidate for breast augmentation surgery. Exact end results and cup sizes are usually quite difficult to calculate as everyone has a different starting point.
It is important to have an in-person assessment regarding your concerns as it is difficult to determine virtually.
There are many different factors that go into choosing a breast implant size which will correspond with your body dimensions while concurrently achieving your aesthetic results. Some of these factors are: Implant size (CC's), Implant profile (Low, Moderate, High), Placement of the implant (Subglandular vs. Dual Plane) etc. We utilize smooth round cohesive silicone gel 'gummy bear' implants for the best results.
During a consultation your aesthetic goals are heard and taken into account with the measurements of your breasts and the integrity of your tissue, as well as level of ptosis (sag). From here we collectively can find your 'perfect fit'. You are able to try out sizers and different implants in our office such that you can get an idea of what size you would be post-operation. We also offer Crisalix 3D plastic surgery virtual simulator during our in-person and virtual consultations to preview potential results. After your consultation, you will receive your very own implant sizers to take home with you (at a small cost) whether or not you decide to go forward with your procedure.
I usually recommend that my patients stop smoking, take vitamin C daily, and avoid aspirin/ibuprofen and vitamin E 3 weeks prior to surgery. I specialize in the 24-hour Recovery method which minimizes trauma to the breast and decreases pain post-operatively.
We encourage you to look at our website and Instagram (drkaraplasticsurgery) for lots of before and after pictures!
Please note that this response does not substitute patient-doctor relationship. We welcome any and all patients seeking advice to come in for a complimentary consultation available for limited time only.
During the COVID-19, we are offering complimentary online consultations as well as in-office consultation with social distancing and masks. Procedure done in-hospital private surgical facility while taking covid-19 precautions. We utilize UV-light to clean the air of viruses and bacteria during our consultations and surgery.
We invite you to come in to discuss your options more thoroughly. Please send us an email at info@drkaraplasticsurgery.com with the subject line: "Attention Meagan" and we will be happy to coordinate your appointment!
M.Kara,MD,FRCSC (27+ years experience) - Specializing in 24 hour recovery/ out to dinner breast augmentation in-hospital private surgical facility for your added safety and peace of mind

Dear Ms. Ilove2workout124,Thank you for your questions. There is no "best". Each have their benefits and limitations.Ideal implant is in between silicone and traditional normal saline as far as feel.Each filler material has it pro's and con's.The more padding (more breast tissues) the less the difference to feel.The differences between two filler materials are:Filler                     Silicone Gel             Normal SalineFeel                      Vicious                     WateryRippling/Palability Less                         MoreRupture.               Remains                   AbsorbedSize of incision.    Larger                      Smaller Mammogram        More x-rays              Less x-raysFDA Rec. MRI.     Yes                           No                             After first 3 years                              then every 2 yearsIntraoperative volume adjustment No sealed at           Yes, can adjust                               the factory Postoperative volume adjustment No, sealed at           Yes, can adjust*                               the factoryCost                        More                         Less*warranty may be voidedI recommend that you make several consultative appointments with Plastic Surgeons who are experienced and Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition ideally they are members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (denoting by membership as having met additional criteria and a focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery).I wish you my best and success,R. A. Hardesty, MD, FACSDiplomate and Certified by the Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgerywwwimagineplasticsurgery.com4646 Brockton AveRiverside, Ca 92506(951) 686-7600

Good for you in that you are doing your research. Neither is "better", they are just different. The Ideal implant "saline" has had very little use, I'm not even sure it has been approved for general public use, so most of us have had zero experience with it. For that answer you will need to specifically contact doctors that may have used it.