Breast Implant Surgery Choices: Saline or Silicone?

Despite many advances in placement and technique, the main focus with breast augmentation continues to be the debate over saline versus silicone material. While both types of implant use a silicone shell casing, there is divided preference over which material is a better, more natural, and longer lasting filler.

One of the biggest differences between the use of saline and silicone in implants is the way they are inserted in the chest wall during breast implant surgery. Saline implants are often inserted as an empty bag through a very small incision and later filled with saline once the casing is in place. This allows the surgeon to use a much smaller incision that is easier to hide and permits custom filling of the implant in order to make both sides look symmetrical. Some women (and their partners) complain that saline breast implants feel hard and unnatural and do not move like natural breast material. This main argument can be avoided with excellent surgical technique and placement. Often, if the plastic surgeon places the saline implant behind the pectoralis muscle and fills it just over capacity, the breast will look and feel more natural.

Silicone implants must be inserted as pre-filled bags during breast implant surgery. This means the plastic surgeon must use a larger incision in order to accommodate the size of the implant. However, many men and women claim silicone is a much more natural feeling material because it is thicker and feels more similar to real human fat.

Both saline and silicone breast implant surgery carry a similar set of risks such as pain in the breast, temporary or permanent changes in nipple and breast sensation, poor healing of scar tissue that can pinch and distort the implant capsule, leakage or rupture due to trauma or implant casing defect, infection, or even the need for additional breast implant surgery to revise or correct problems with the initial operation.

When it comes to implant rupture, there is one main difference between saline and silicone. With a saline implant, you will notice the rupture immediately as the breast begins to deflate. With silicone ruptures, you may not notice the rupture or leakage for several weeks or months, if at all. Often silicone silently leaks into the chest wall and remains undetected for years. Silent silicone rupture with a buildup of silicone in the chest wall can be dangerous as it may lead to breast pain or change in the breast contour.

If you are deciding between saline and silicone for implants you will want to weigh the pros and cons of each type and determine which factors are most important for you. Reading as much information as possible will help you make a balanced decision that you will be happy with for many years to come.