Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.
Both silicone and saline implants have a silicone shell. It's what's inside that's different. Saline implants are filled with saline solution. They look, act, and feel like a bag of water. Silicone implants are more cohesive. They have a feel more like natural breast tissue. I've included a video I hope you find helpful.
Silicone implants have a more natural feel. There are also several different types of silicone that vary in firmness.
I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants, if interested, and they choose what looks right for them. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA
Being softer, more giggly or bouncier doesn’t really translate to a more natural implant feel. I believe this is what you are trying to ask. Silicone implants behave more like breast, therefore they feel and look more natural. A saline implant giggles more because it is basically water inside a silicone casing. It will behave similar to a balloon filled with water. Hope this answers your question,Dr. Miguel Mota
Thank you for your question. I might disagree slightly with some others on here. And I am going to answer several of your questions together....Shaped vs. round implant - this is up for debate, the honest answer is that either will work and some surgeons might have a preference for one or another. I actually prefer a shaped implant for these cases, especially if the patient has a severely deformed breast or very little glandular tissue. You want to make sure you choose a highly-cohesive gel implant, and now these come in both round and shaped, so there are options, but the highly-cohesive gel will help shape the breast over time, so whichever shape you choose, the shape of the final outcome will look more like the implant you choose (especially if you are small breasted to start out with). My preferred approach to a tuberous breast with enlargement of the nipple/areola is an incision around the nipple to place the implant (under the muscle usually, but this really depends on soft tissue/breast coverage thickness), scoring of the gland restriction in the lower pole, and then a periareolar mastopexy on the way out! But this same approach can be done with a shaped or round device. Which implant type bounces/jiggles more softer? - my advice here is to choose a highly-cohesive gel implant, which is firmer but also ripples less and will do a better job at shaping the breast. If you choose a "softer" or less cohesive gel implant, the implant will be more likely to be shaped and formed by the breast than the other way around and this can be a problem when there is baseline shape deformity in the breast (tuberous breast). Tubular breasts, saggy, tight, constricted. Over or under the muscle implant? - see above, in general the answer is under the muscle, but the implant can be placed over the muscle if you have enough natural soft tissue thickness and breast tissue to adequately cover the implant. If you do go in front of the muscle, I usually suggest using a textured implant (all shaped implants are textured) as the risk of capsular contracture is less with a textured implant than a smooth implant when placed in front of the muscle. This would need to be determined by an exam to find out what is best for you.Hope this helps!Dallas Buchanan, MDVIVIFY plastic surgery Tampa, FL
Dear Hepburnn,breast implant type and sizing selection is a complicated process and requires a detailed consultation that includes a discussion of your goals, a detailed examination, and a lengthy discussion. But the decision will always start and end with the patient. When it comes to sizing, we have all of our patients find 3 photos of their desired breast size. We ask for naked breast photos because clothing can obscure the true size (push up bras). Next, we consult with patients and go over the photos and take detailed breast measurements during a physical exam. Next, we using a sizing algorithm to determine a range of implants that will work based on the exam and the measurements.Lastly, during the operation, we use silicone sizers in the operating room to see how the size actually looks in the breast. We sit the patient up in the operating room, while asleep of course, and compare the sizer result with their desired look photos. If it is too small, we start the process over with a slightly larger implant. We don't stop until we get the perfect match.Of all of my breast augmentation patients, every one of them has been happy with their size due to this detailed and meticulous process. You don't want to invest time and money into a result that is either too big or too small.You should discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon and make sure that your surgeon understands your goals.Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Smooth round silicone implants are the softest and most jiggly of implants. However, the jiggle and degree of softness also depends upon how much breast tissue you have and how large the implant you choose. If you have little breast tissue and choose a large implant, your now big ball breast will be hard and not jiggle.
An implant over the muscle will expand the lower pole faster; a lift is performed only if its necessary, it can range from a periarolar lift, in which the fibrous ring of the tuberous breast is released; but if the tuberous deformity is moderate or severe, a complete lift is the procedure of choice,
You should go on several consultations with board certified plastic surgeons. Request to feel both the saline implants so you will know first hand the differences. The silicone feel more natural and I am not sure if there is a difference in the 'bounce' of either implant post op. Silicone implants tend to ripple less than silicone as well.Dr. Taranow
Silicone implants have a more natural and softer feel in comparison to saline implants. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a BBL specialist can help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing. Respectfully,Arian Mowlavi MD,FACSRealself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee