Will silicone or saline give me a fake look?

Occasionally, plastic surgeons are asked to create very round, and unnatural appearing breasts by patients.  Some women like this look, while others prefer the "done" look because they want to be real "perky" and not wear a bra.  In our practice, we have experience doing very natural breast augmentation procedures as well as offering to a select group of patients desiring the "done" look procedures which will make them happy.

Breasts which look "done" are usually large for the patient's frame, very round, overly close cleavage, and high on the chest.   The easiest way to accoomplish this in my opinion is to use a large saline implant with an overfill.   The problem with this approach in the long term is the thinning of the skin and breast tissue which can occur as well as the feel of the breasts which is firm and less than natural.

 

Other options include the use of a high profile or ultra high profile silicone gel implant.  These implants give a roundish look, especially the ultra high gel.  Patients desiring this look should be careful that they do not injure or damage their breasts by going "too big" or having their cleavage "too close" because of the risk of tissue thinning, rippling, and damage to the cleavage area (symmastia).   Consult a very experienced board certifed plastic surgeon before considering these procedures.

 

My recommendation is to balance the look you wish with safety and good choices for the long term.

 

Good luck!

 

Dr. Bresnick

To achieve the "fake" breast look really depends on the placement, size, and shape of the implant, and can be achieved with either silicone or saline implants. What you want to discuss with your surgeon is getting high profile implants with enough cc's that will get you that "fake" breast look. An experienced board certified plastic surgeon will know how to achieve this look for you, so just make sure your surgeon knows what your goals are for your results. 

For the rounder, higher, more augmented look, slight overfilled saline implants fit the bill.  One of the reasons I don't like saline implants is because they do give a phony look.  The downside of saline implants is they tend to ripple and have a greater chance of deflation.  All that being said, if you are looking for round, high, less natural, more surgically done look, then saline implants are the implants for you. 

In terms of how they look and feel, silicone implants are considered to be a more natural-looking option compared to saline implants. Many women believe that silicone implants offer a much softer feel and look more like natural breasts, and are less likely to produce rippling, while saline implants tend to feel hard. Saline implants also are more likely to appear wrinkled or rippled, especially among women who have very little breast tissue of their own. 

I practice in Miami, where a lot of women prefer the "fake" look. It has more to do with implant size (larger is more fake); style (high-profile is more projecting) and surgical position, (keeping the submuscular pocket higher) -----than whether the implant is silicone or saline. Personally, I prefer silicone. It lasts longer and feels great.

 

hope this helps,

 

Dr. Michael in Miami

In appearence silicone and saline implants look identical.  Only difference between them is difference of feel.  Silicone gel implants feel more natural and have less ripples.  Result from breast augmentation depends greatly on existing breasts of patients and everything is not always possible in everyone.

A good plastic surgeon can navigate you through possibilities of achievable results with varying implant profiles and their placements.  Result that you are seeking may or may not be achievable in your particular case.  Only your doctor can guide you about your expectations.

 

 

You can have tight, "fake" appearing implants with either saline or silicone. It depends more on the size of the implant, the shape (projection) of the implant, and the pocket space. Saline can be overfilled in order to make them very firm and thus may be a better option for you.

The main difference between saline and silicone is that the silicone usually feel softer With saline it is easier to detect a rupture. With saline it is also a bit easier to match asymmetries.

In general saline implants will tend to give more of an augmented appearance than silicone implants which tend to give a more natural appearance.  The experience of your surgeon, however, will determine what he or she is comfortable with.  A larger high profile silicone implant will also give an augmented look and if your surgeon is more comfortable with that procedure he will direct you to silicone.

Ask to see before and after photos of the look you are interested in.  If you are also having a lift you may have poor tissue elasticity and the look you are after may be present for some time after surgery but it may not last as your skin relaxes and the implants settle.

Thank you for your question and best of luck.

In general, if you desire the look as you describe, saline implants are usually better for producing that look.  I equate gel implants with a more natural look.  Implant styles such as high profile implants can certainly exaggerate the projection, provided your body can handle the increased volume to give you the base diameter you desire and need.  The emerging highly cohesive gel implants could also help creating the fake look.  You should review this more with your surgeon and allow her/him to show you the differences with how the implants change when help upright