Breast Implants: Silicone VS Saline

According to statistics reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the most requested and most popular cosmetic surgery is breast augmentation. There are two options for achieving a bustier chest—fat transfer and breast implants. Fat transfer uses fat from other locations of your body to inject into your breasts while implants are inserted under or over your breast muscle.

As with most things in life, one of the most important steps before deciding to get a boob job is to first do your research. Undergoing plastic surgery isn’t a light decision—you will need to make a lot of choices such as which doctor should you visit, which size should you increase to, etc. In the mix of these important decisions you will need to make, you will also need to choose between getting saline implants or silicone implants if you’re going with an implant procedure. So, what’s the difference between silicone and saline implants?

SALINE VS SILICONE?

When considering a breast augmentation, you will be faced with the silicone vs saline challenge. Saline implants use sterile saline solution, which is basically salt water, to inflate a silicone-based outer shell. Silicone implants, on the other hand, are entirely made of silicone shell. Saline implants are usually said to have a similar feel as a water balloon, whereas silicone implants are said to feel like a gummy bear.

Saline VS Silicone: Which one looks better?

Your breast augmentation experience can easily differ depending on which you choose. For many people, this is the important part. While there is no clear cut answer, here are the pros and cons for each option. Saline implants leave a much smaller scar than silicone implants because they are filled after they are put in, so the incision doesn’t have to be as large. However, silicone implants are much lighter than saline implants, which means a lot less pulling. This means that silicone implants won’t have as much downward displacement as saline, so there’s usually no rippling with silicone implants.

Overall, silicone implants tend to have a much more natural feel and look to them. But, saline implants have a much more optimal diameter with more volume choices. The answer to this question ultimately relies on the individual, current breast size, and ideal breast size. Doctors tend to suggest that people with smaller cup sizes, such as A and B, usually benefit most with silicone implants, but individuals with C-cups or higher only looking to increase a little will notice very little difference between the two.  

Saline VS silicone: What are the risks?

Of course, there are risks to both saline and silicone implants. Although the risks of breast augmentation are particular to the patient, there’s one key area of difference between saline and silicone implants. When it comes to ruptures, if saline implants rupture, they deflate while the body absorbs the sterile saline solution. Contrarily, when silicone implants rupture it occurs in an undetectable manner. Because of this, individuals with silicone implants will have to undergo periodic MRI’s in order to make sure the implants haven’t ruptured.

Saline VS silicone: Which one is cheaper?

Boob jobs cost money regardless of which type of implants you choose to get. Boob jobs can be anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000 for the surgeon’s fee alone, and sometimes even more, but saline implants are typically around $1,000 cheaper than silicone implants.

Saline VS silicone: So, which one should i choose?

Well, it depends. As anything with multiple options, the different options exist for a reason. That’s why it is very important to look at the pros and cons of each option and decide which type will be best for you and your specific interests. Another important factor that might help certain individuals know which option is better for them is your age. Individuals that are 18 years and older can get saline implants, whereas you need to be at least 22 years old in order to get silicone implants. Additionally, it is very important to keep in mind that you’re an individual with your own unique body. Thus, there is never a clear-cut answer to whether you should get saline implants or silicone implants. Ultimately, your breast augmentation decisions can only be made individually with the assistance of your plastic surgeon. 

If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery and would like assistance, schedule your consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Z, today. Our chief plastic surgeon will assist you along your journey and ensure that you are fully informed in order to confidently make decisions alongside his expertise.