Saline implants feel like a hard water balloon. Will I like Silicone better or am I just too picky?

Question

I have 330 cc saline implants under the muscle and I don't like how they feel in certain positions or when I touch them in certain ways. They feel soft and mostly real if I only touch/push them from one side at a time but if I squeeze one, I can feel the firmness of the implant inside. I can also shift the implant all around in the pocket and it feels like a firm bag of water underneathe my tissue that I can move back and form inside me.Will silicone be better or am I just pickier than others?

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

The feel of silicone implants depends on how they are filled and whether or not the capsule around them has tightened.  Changing to silicone implants does not automatically give you softer breasts unless you determine what the problem is.  A physical examination by a plastic surgeon can help figure out what's the real underlying problem and how to fix it

Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS · Answer

Although most surgeons these days recommend silicone gel implants,in my experience with moderate size implants (330 cc I would characterize as moderate size) with adequate breast tissue coverage will have soft natural feeling implants with saline over time, that are only subtly different than silicone for most patients.  However, the implant takes many months to fully soften as the silicone rubber shell stretches slightly. It is essential that they be placed in the submuscular position as yours were, but I also find that placing them in the subfascial plane laterally is beneficial in improving the way they feel. They do offer advantages: easier replacement, easier detection of leakage, and lower incidence of capsular contracture over time.  You have to make a decision on your own, but I strongly feel that the decision is not an automatic one...there are real advantages to saline, as well as their disadvantages.

David C. Yao, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for sharing. Silicone implants tend to have a much softer and preferred feel to most people. This may be what you are interested in. See your plastic surgeon to discuss. Implant exchange is commonly done for this issue. Good luck

Douglas L. Gervais, MD · Answer

Dear rockerbabe, A vast majority of my patients choose silicone implants because they feel softer and more natural. I would agree with them. We also see many patients who have saline implants and now want to switch to silicone. This is a straight forward, easy procedure and in most cases can be done with local anesthetic. See an experienced board certified breast plastic surgeon to discuss your choices and options. Good luck. Dr. Gervais.

Scott W. Vann, MD, FACS · Answer

Your complaints about saline are some of the most common complaints we here about saline. A switch to silicone should improve all these complaints. Have your surgeon check on the firmness issue to see if you nee more than a implant exchange.

Saline implants feel like a hard water balloon. Will I like Silicone better or am I just too picky?

Answers (10)

Answer: Switch Saline To Silicone Implants

Answer: Switch Saline To Silicone Implants

Answer: Implant difference saline vs silicone.

Answer: Implant difference saline vs silicone.

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Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

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Saline implants feel like a hard water balloon. Will I like Silicone better or am I just too picky?

Answers (10)

Answer: Switch Saline To Silicone Implants

Answer: Switch Saline To Silicone Implants

Answer: Implant difference saline vs silicone.

Answer: Implant difference saline vs silicone.

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.