Silicone or Saline Breast Implants

Silicone breast implant on the left. Saline on the right.

“Silicone or saline?” is one of the first questions facing most women who have decided to have breast implants.  Plastic surgeons spend a lot of time outlining the benefits and risks of both of these options during consultation. While both carry their own benefits and risks, the truth is that silicone is quickly becoming the most popular option.

Silicone is becoming popular because, quite frankly, it makes the best breasts. A saline implant is nothing more than a medical-grade water balloon. This means that it does not look very natural and often feels quite hard. This type of implant may also wrinkle underneath the skin and increases the likelihood of capsular contracture.

While they feel hard under the skin, saline implants are actually quite soft outside of the body, feeling like liquid not body tissue. If you were to feel a sample of each implant, you would quickly find that a silicone one feels and behaves much more like natural breast tissue in comparison to a saline one.

Silicone is also a very safe option. Today’s implant is filled with a cohesive gel similar in texture to a gummy bear candy. This means that they do not leak or deflate, which is common with saline. This makes them a much safer option for women who are concerned about leaks.

Surgical technique is a consideration as well. Fro example, if your plastic surgeon offers implantation through an armpit incision, this usually requires saline implants. The implant shell can be inserted through the armpit incision and inflated with saline while in place. This is not usually available with silicone filled implants.

So if you are considering breast implants, discuss your options thoroughly with a board certified plastic surgeon to discover the best options for your goals and your body type.