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  • Saline vs. Silicone Breast Implants Explained
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One of the biggest questions I get asked constantly and during breast augmentation consultations is whether to use a silicone or a saline implant. Right now, I think int he United States, 70% of implants are silicone and 30% are less maybe are saline implants. We have watched the evolution of that over the last seven years since the F.D.A. approved the use of silicone breast implants in 2006. So little by little, I've seen patients choose more and more silicone breast implants. Now most of our patients will choose silicone breast implants first over a saline implant, but there's still some people that would choose to have saline.

What is the big difference? The difference is that the saline implants come empty to begin with and then we can fill them up through this little port in the operating room to the desired size. They will allow some overfill, which allows for some adjustments. That is an advantage of this kind of implant. The implant is filled with saline, so therefore it has a lot more mobility and motion. Weight-wise, it is a little heavier than a silicone implant. The implant also has a tendency to form little creases, what we call scalloping. They could be felt through the edges of the implant.

In my opinion, silicone implants are safe as saline implants but saline implants are a little under the quality of the performance of a silicone breast implant. I tend to advise more to use silicone implants than saline. There are some patients that will still prefer these saline implants. I don't have any problems utilizing them since I'm very adept to using them as well.

I have seen a lot of patients that I've done in the past with saline implants come back and ask for a replacement with silicone. The overwhelming majority are much more satisfied with the silicone breast implants.

Saline vs. Silicone Breast Implants Explained

Dr. Juan Brou explains the difference between saline and silicone implants and which kind more women seem to be happier with.