Should I Switch from Silicone to Saline? (photo)

I always tell my patients that silicone gel implants are the Cadillac of implants and saline implants are the Honda of implants.  They will both get you to your destination but it's a matter of style.  By that analogy I mean that silicone gel implants more closely approximate the look and feel of real breast tissue.  Saline implants are basically a bag full of water and they have the potential to look/feel like a bag full of water.  Both will add volume but I think the silicone gel implants are a lot nicer.  Another thing to consider is that, the larger volume you use, the more your natural tissue has to stretch and thin out in order to cover the implant.  If the layer of tissue coverage over the implant is very thin, you may be able to feel/see ripples and wrinkles in an implant, more so with saline than with silicone gel.  Finally, the largest volume implant made by the three manufacturers approved by the FDA for selling implants in this country is approximately 750 -800 cc's.  These companies used to make custom-made implants for patients who wanted larger sizes but they don't do that anymore.  I know there are women out there with larger volume implants but I don't know where they are getting them or what the quality of those larger volume implants might be.

Thank you for your question and photographs. You currently have an excellent result. I question the wisdom of going larger but of course that is your personal option.However switching from silicon gel breast implants to saline implants especially with a larger size, in my opinion is a bad idea. If he changes saline implants you run the risk of visible rippling and folds that can be seen through the skin which would make you very unhappy.

Your implants are large; the soft tissue over them becomes thinner over time.  The larger the implant, the less cover the soft tissue can acheive.  One solution is to go with larger implants,......but cover the implants with your own body fat.  This is a new technique called COMPOSITE BREAST AUGMENTATION I developed and involves taking liposuctioned fat from unwanted body areas.

 

Saline implants will not help, and make the tissues thinner likely.

 

Best Regards,

 

Dr Del Vecchio