Saline VS. Silicone Breast Implants

If you are wondering about the differences between saline and silicone implants, this article can help you. Breast augmentation surgery makes breasts look bigger and fuller. This can be done for cosmetic reasons or reconstructive purposes. If you are considering breast implants, you definitely want to know more about different types of them to choose one that fulfills your expectations best. They can differ by their filling material, age guideline, rupture risks, the way they look, feel, cost, and the incision size.

Who Needs Breast Implants?

Breast implant, which is also known as breast augmentation, involves placing breast prostheses under the breast tissue or its muscle. Breast implants can increase the volume of the breast in women who naturally have small breasts or have lost their breasts’ volume due to different reasons. Therefore, women might undergo breast implants for two purposes:

• Increasing the size of breasts:

  this surgery can increase the size of breasts for those who want to have bigger boobs. Breast augmentation could be due to either having natural small breasts, decreased breast volume following breastfeeding, or a major weight loss.

• Reconstructing the breasts:

  breast implants can be done either because of breast failure to grow or to replace the removed breast tissue that has occurred during the cancer treatment.

What Are the Risks of Breast Implants?

Saline and silicone implants both can have the same complications that are:

• Scar tissue
• Breast pain
• Infection
• Change in nipple and breast sensations (often temporary)
• Implant leakage or rupture
• Change in implant position
• Need for additional surgeries
• Deflation
• Capsular contracture (forms around the implant and distorts shape of it)
• Asymmetric breasts
• Infection injury
• Inflammation
• Seroma
• Skin rash
• Unsatisfactory size or style

Breast implants are not considered a lifetime object that would last for the rest of life without any complications. In fact, the longer people have them, the greater the chances of growing complications. Correcting the complications might require additional surgery either to remove the implant or replace it. The surgical procedures that might be performed to correct a breast implant include:

• Implant removal
• Capsule removal
• Scar revision
• Drainage of extra fluids and blood by inserting a tube into the skin
• Repositioning the implant

The type of required surgical procedure depends on the complication involved. Moreover, there is no guarantee that you have a satisfactory outcome from any reoperations.

Silicone Vs. Saline Implants

When it comes to surgery, there are different brands of breast implants that can be advertised widely making the customers confused about the best type.  All types of breast implants have a shell made out of silicone polymer but the internal filler could be different in material and consistency. The shell surface can be smooth or textured; the smooth implants can move around the breast area, which can mimic natural breast movements. Textured implants keep the implant more stable in place while they let soft tissue grow into their surface. The implants have a variety of sizes and volumes. There is no fixed size suitable for all people; therefore, to get the desired goals, you need to consult with your surgeon and talk about your aesthetic plans and your concerns. With the help of your surgeon, you will be able to select the best implant that matches your goals. It should be noted that for reconstructive purposes, the use of implants does not have an age limitation.  

• Saline Breast Implants

Saline breast implants are used for breast augmentation and they are available for women over the age of 18. The shell of saline implants are made of silicone but the inside filler is a sterile salt water. Saline breast implants are inserted under the breast tissue empty and then they will be filled with the desired volume with saline fluid. Some saline implants have the option of postoperative adjustment through a remote injection port, which offers the opportunity of adjusting the volume of implants after the operation.  

• Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone breast implant is used for candidates over the age of 22 in case of cosmetic utilization. No human allergies or sensitivities have been diagnosed for silicone gel polymer. This type of implants is utilized pre-filled with a thicker silicone fluid inside a shell that mimics the feel of breast tissue. Silicone implants have more cohesive structures that induce a more natural feeling.

What are the Major Differences?

 

Filling Material

The implant shells are all made from silicone. Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water but silicone implants are filled with a thicker fluid made of silicone.

Required Age

For the cosmetic use of Saline implants, candidates should be at least 18 years old. If you are interested in using silicone implants, the minimum age is 22. For breast reconstruction, there is no age limitation.

 Rupture Risks

If a saline implant ruptures, the implant deflates and your body absorbs the salt water. Therefore, the ruptures would be apparent and you will notice that immediately. Since saline implants are filled with sterile salt water, they will not oppose the body to danger. Silicone implant ruptures may not be apparent, though. The silicone tends to stay trapped in the surrounding tissue; therefore, if it ruptures, it will be a silent rupture. However, silicone implant rupture can cause symptoms like breast pain, change in the breast contour, change in size, lumps, and breast hardening. It is recommended to monitor your implants via regular ultrasound or MRI to detect any issues.

Look & Feel

Silicone implants often feel more natural because their structure is similar to breast tissue. Silicone implants have various degrees of firmness to be matched with your own breast structure. Saline implants are more likely to demonstrate the folds of the implant and rippling, therefore it may put the natural look of your breasts in danger.

Cost

In terms of costs, saline implants are cheaper than silicone ones; therefore, your overall cost for breast implantation will be decreased.

Incision Size

Saline implants are often inflated after being placed in the implant pocket, as the result, they need a smaller incision to be placed inside the body. Silicone implants are produced pre-filled and normally need larger incisions to be placed under the skin.

Important Factors to Be Considered Before Getting Breast Implants

 

• Breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime. About 20 percent of women who have breast implants need breast implant removal after 8 to 10 years.
• Mammograms will be more complicated after having breast implants. You should tell the radiologist at the time of your mammograms to perform additional and specialized examinations.
• Breast implants do not prevent breasts from sagging. If you need to correct sagging breasts, you might also need a breast lift in addition to breast augmentation which can be performed at the same time or after that.
• Breast implants might barricade breastfeeding. However, this problem will not happen for everybody and some women can successfully breast feed after breast augmentation.
• Insurance often will not cover cosmetic use of breast implant surgery and its related tests, unless it is medically necessary.
• After implant removal, you may need additional surgeries to help your breasts look better.

In conclusion, even though your surgeon might recommend one type of implant over the others according to your breast anatomy, the final choice between saline and silicone types of implants is up to you. TebMedTourism doctors who are among the top cosmetic surgeons in Iran will help you know all the details about each type of implant to choose one that fits your expectations the best. To get more information about this surgery, don’t hesitate to contact us to get free personal consultation!

Communication ways: call us: +98 912 098 5010 Mail us: [email protected]