Can You Feel the Saline Port on the Breast Implant?

This is most commonly noted with above-the-muscle placement (not recommended for saline as there is much higher likelihood for ripple visibility and palpability, not to mention increased risk of capsular contracture from ductal bacteria biofilm on the implants), and very thin and small-breasted women (also a relative contraindication for saline implants because of the increased edge or ripple concerns).

I have had patients go so far as to note the filler port as a tiny "lump," see their physician, who orders a mammogram, and even schedules a consultation with a general surgeon for "possible breast biopsy," only to finally decide that since there is an implant in the breast they had better get the patient's plastic surgeon in the loop. I see the patient, have them examine the OTHER breast (the one nobody has been looking at since the "lump" is in the first-examined breast) and lo and behold, there's another identical "lump" that represents the palpable filler port. All worry and tests and time wasted for what should have been eliminated first by a visit to the plastic surgeon (in my case, also a fully-trained and American Board of Surgery-certified general surgeon before plastic surgery training).

I would also seriously consider both silicone gel implants and below-the-muscle placement for a more natural look, softer and more homogeneous (like breast tissue) "feel," and no risk of deflation requiring re-operation. There is also a much lower risk of visible or palpable rippling with silicone implants. Please see my article (on the About tab of my profile page on this site) titled: "Are Silicone Breast Implants Safe?" for more information, or click on the link below. Best wishes!

Yes it is possible to feel the port of a saline implant.  If you are very skinny and do not have a lot of fat under the skin (and over the implant) than if you feel your implants you may be able to feel the port. It should not be anything that is visible but may be possible to feel.  It may be one reason why you would want to choose a silicone implant over a saline implant.  Saline implants do have some advantages, so you should discuss your options with your board certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience with both saline and silicone implants.

Sincerely,

Martin Jugenburg, MD

Yes I have had patients who are able to feel the breast implant valve, usually directly underneath the areola.  One  patient experienced discomfort in this area that  resolved  after  the saline implants were removed and replaced with silicone gel implants (no valves).

in general, the more coverage (breast tissue) the patient has the less likely she is to feel the valve or any other part of the saline  implant.  Patients  with very little soft tissue coverage may be better candidates for  silicone gel implants (everything else being equal).

I hope this helps.

So after reading each experts posting, you can see that YES saline ports can be felt in over 90% of responders. The one dissenter can only base this his own personal surgery experience. In my 34 years of practice I have seen this more commonly in very thin women but also have been able to palpate the port in full breasted women. It is not a real issue unless you are having pain. 

I have never experience a case where I or the patient has been able to feel the port of a saline implant.  I believe that the port should be placed anteriorly directly under the nipple areola.  Although I have not seen a problem if it is placed against the back of the pocket.  But I do not think that being able to feel the port should be a concern with saline implants.