February 5, 2012

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Breast Implants: Silicone vs. Saline

Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex, Texas Breast Aug

After your choice of plastic surgeon, the breast implants you select for your procedure will have the largest impact on your breast augmentation results. Currently, there are two options available for breast augmentation: saline and silicone gel. Both give good results, but silicone gel breast implants have a texture that is more like natural breast tissue. For women whose primary concern is the quality and longevity of their results, silicone gel breast implants are the best choice, though other factors may make saline breast implants more desirable for you.

This page contains basic information about saline and silicone gel breast implants, but we invite you to talk to us about which option might be right for you. Please call 800-558-7355 or email us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vasdev Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas today.

Silicone Gel and Saline Breast Implants

Breast augmentation uses breast implants to increase the size and improve the shape of your breasts. Breast implants consist of a solid silicone shell and a filler material. Currently, two filler materials are available for breast implants: silicone gel and saline.

Silicone breast implants are filled with a cohesive silicone gel, softer than the first generation of breast implants, but more solid than silicone breast implants used during the 70s and 80s. These breast implants come pre-filled from the factory in a wide range of sizes.

Saline breast implants are initially unfilled. After insertion, they are filled with saline solution (salt water), the same standard IV solution used in a number of surgical applications.

Advantages of Silicone Gel Breast Implants

The primary advantage of silicone gel breast implants is that they give a better cosmetic result. They look and feel more like natural breast tissue, are less likely to show their edge, have rippling, or rupture, so they not only give better-looking results, but also likely longer-lasting results. They are recommended for women with less breast tissue and if you are considering subglandular placement of implants. Silicone breast implants give more support to slightly sagging breasts. If a silicone gel breast implant ruptures, the cohesive gel should stay in the implant until you are able to get it replaced.Some women are concerned about the safety of silicone gel breast implants. When the FDA established a 15-year moratorium on silicone breast implants for cosmetic breast augmentation, these implants were intensely studied. No connection was found between silicone breast implants and cancer, autoimmune disorders, or connective tissue disorders. They were also not found to cause adverse effects to breastfeeding infants. Convinced by the studies showing that they are safe, the FDA re-approved silicone breast implants in 2006.

Advantages of Saline Breast Implants

Saline breast implants can give good results for the right breast aug candidate, especially women with sufficient natural breast tissue and when the implants are placed under the pectoral muscle. They are less expensive than silicone gel implants. They are also more flexible and can be inserted through a smaller incision than silicone breast implants, which means they can be used with any breast augmentation incision you choose. If a saline breast implant ruptures, the filler is quickly and safely absorbed by the body. This will cause the breast to deflate, but is safe.

Which Implant Is Right for You?

Both styles of breast implant are good options, but which one is right for you depends on a number of factors. If you want to know more about the options, we invite you to schedule a breast implants consultation with Dallas breast  surgeon Dr. Vasdev Rai today.  Serving the areas of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.