Silicone Breast Implants Require Moderately Sized Incisions

If you're considering breast augmentation surgery as a means of enlarging your breast size, you'll need to make a choice prior to your surgery regarding which type of implant you'll want inserted into your breast pocket. Will you choose the highly controversial silicone gel breast implant, or will you choose the saline breast implant device? Ultimately, the choice is yours and your surgeon will insert whichever type of implant you feel is best for your augmentation goals. 
The silicone gel breast implant device has been the subject of extreme controversy ever since its initial use in breast augmentation surgery in the mid 60s. The device manufacturers have been the target of countless lawsuits, FDA scrutiny, and media hype. Despite the negative history associated with this implant device, it remains the most popular implant of choice among American women. 
By comparison, the silicone device is smoother and softer than the saline breast implant. The silicone device is believed to mimic real breast tissue than any other device currently in production. The same cannot be said for saline implants: many people believe the saline implant device feels like nothing more than a water balloon! Both implants share one common design feature: they both use an exterior silicone shell. 
The primary cause for concern relating to the silicone implant device is their liquid silicone filler. The silicone gel filler is said to be the catalyst for many health complications should the filler leak into the human body. Although the modern silicone gel device is far less prone to implant rupture and leakage than its earlier production models, the fact remains that silicone gel is a health hazard. 
When an implant ruptures it will leak its filler into the human body. The saline device is filled with a saltwater solution; if it leaks into the body there is virtually zero risk of health complications as a result of the saltwater mix entering the woman's body. The same cannot be said of silicone gel implants; when a silicone gel implant ruptures it will leak liquid silicone into her body. 
The rate at which an implant leaks its filler is also a cause for concern. Since the saline device is filled with a saltwater mix, it will leak its liquid filler into the body quite rapidly, causing the implant to completely deflate almost immediately. The rapid deflation characteristic of the saline device is a benefit as it will allow for almost immediate visible detection of the rupture and leakage. 
In direct contract to the saline device, the silicone gel implant will leak its filler very slowly. The rate at which a silicone device leaks its filler is so slow that in some cases the implant can leak for up to two years before visible detection is possible. Two years is a very long time for liquid silicone to be leaking into the body!
In 1992 the FDA banned the use of silicone devices in breast augmentation surgery. The ban lasted fourteen years. During that time, the FDA conducted a thorough clinical trial of the device and forced several design changes in order to minimize the implant's rupture rate. Although the FDA finally gave its stamp of approval for the unrestricted use of the device in 2006, the FDA also recommended that all women with silicone implants undergo biannual MRIs in order to help detect ruptured implants. 
There are three locations in which an implant can be inserted into the breast pocket. Subglandular is when the implant is placed on top of the muscle. There is partial submuscular which is when only a portion of the implant is placed under the muscle. The third insertion method is when the implant is placed entirely under the muscle and that is called complete submuscular. The silicone breast implant can be inserted into the breast pocket via any of those three methods. 
The scarring potential associated with silicone implants is greater than the scarring potential with saline implants. The reason is because silicone gel devices are pre filled with silicone gel and require larger incisions while saline devices are filled with saline solution only after they are inserted into the breast pocket. If you are worried about potential surgical scarring, you should probably avoid the silicone gel implant. 
If cost is one of your major concerns, the silicone gel implant may not be your best choice. The saline implant device is typically 20% to 30% less expensive than the silicone gel device. The cost difference is most likely due to the fact that saline solution, which is basically a saltwater mix, is much cheaper to produce as filler than liquid silicone. 
Choosing the right implant for your surgery is a very important decision. There is only one other decision relating to your breast augmentation surgery that is more important, and that is choosing the right breast augmentation surgeon. You should begin your search for a qualified surgeon by visiting the American Society of Plastic Surgeon's website. Their database can provide you with a list of highly qualified plastic surgeons in your area that are board certified in breast augmentation surgery. Once you've acquired a list of potential surgeons, you should call at least two of them and schedule an initial consultation.