• Video
  • Breast Implants: Saline, Round Silicone, and Gummy Bear
{{ showTranscript ? 'HIDE' : 'SHOW' }} TRANSCRIPT
Hey, Dr. Lowenstein here. I thought we'd talk about types of implants real quick. I'm actually heading off to the operating room shortly, but I want to do a quick review of the shaped silicone implants, the smooth round silicone implants and the saline implants -- all of which are good implants. There's not one implant that's better than the others. It's just a matter of what's better for you depending on what you're looking for and the results that you're hoping for.

You'll first notice that the shaped implant looks white, because it's textured. It's got a rough surface. The reason for that is that we want it to stick to where we're putting it. We're put it in and we don't want it to rotate, because that's gonna look kind of strange. It's got a rough surface and it stays where we put it, which is an advantage if that's what you like. It's a little firmer than the other gels. It doesn't move around. Normal breast tissue when you lie down will kind of move off to the side. When you stand up, it will change shapes. This implant is made not to do that. It's gonna stay where we put it and be a little bit more of a youthful appearance, which is great in women who don't have a lot of breast tissue to start with and looking for a proportionate outcome that is on the firm side. It's the gummy bear implant people often refer to.

The other implant is the gold standard, which is a smooth, round gel implant. This is a softer implant. It's made with a smooth shell so it moves around very nicely. It has a very, very nice natural-appearing look and feel after surgery.

The saline implant also a great implant, just different. First thing you'll notice with this is that it feels a little different than the gels. When you hold it up here, you're gonna see that there's some rippling. That happens on the inside too. When you're standing up, you can sometimes feel and sometimes even see some rippling. It's something you got to be aware of with a saline implant. The saline implant's advantages are, number one, it's cheaper and it's cheaper for all plastic surgeons because it's cheaper for the plastic surgeon to buy. Usually that cost is passed on to you at cost savings. It costs us less, so it costs you less. Number two, it comes deflated. We put it in through a smaller incision and inflate it on the inside. You can get a little smaller incision out of this. Number three, when it deflates or it ruptures, you'll know it because the implant leaks saline. Your body is mostly saline anyway. It just absorbs the saline like an I.V. and you'll notice that you're smaller on one side and you'll notice there's a problem there.

The gel implants, they feel and look more natural. They don't collapse when they rupture because your body doesn't absorb the silicone gel. The F.D.A. wants you to get a M.R.I. after three years and every other year after that when you have either of these types of implants to check on the implants and make sure that they're still in good shape.

All of these implants in my practice, we put in dual plane pockets or partially under the muscles. We cover the implants with as much of your own tissue as possible to make things a teardrop shape, look and feel natural. It's what we specialize in. We use all three of these implants. Again there's not one that's better or worse. It's just a matter of what you're looking for and your post-operative outcome.

I hope that helps. Again it's Dr. Lowenstein in Santa Barbara. Any other questions that we could help with, always feel free to ask. Okay, take care.

Breast Implants: Saline, Round Silicone, and Gummy Bear

Dr. Adam Lowenstein describes the difference between the three most commonly used breast implants: saline, round silicone gel, and a shaped or "gummy bear" silicone gel implant.