Saline vs Silicone Breast Implants

New York City, Manhattan, Long Island, and Westchester, New York

If you're planning a breast augmentation procedure, your choice of breast implants plays an important role in your final results. Dr. Scott Newman offers both saline and silicone breast implant options at his New York City practice. Here you can begin to learn more about your implant options.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline implants first appeared on the U.S. market in the 1970s. They gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2000.

One of the advantages of saline breast implants is that they are very similar to natural body fluids, and saline is easily and harmlessly absorbed should an implant rupture. Since the implant deflates, it's easy to tell when a rupture has occurred and replacement is needed.

Saline breast implants are filled after placement into the breast pocket. This provides the patient with a slightly smaller incision and scar compared with pre-filled silicone-gel implants. Since implants can be filled with different amounts of saline once placed, Dr. Newman is able to adjust the size of each implant in an effort to avoid breast asymmetry.

Disadvantages of saline implants are mainly cosmetic. Some women may be unhappy with the way saline implants look, due to rippling and wrinkling. Patients have said this implant type does not feel like natural breast tissue, and they occasionally complain of being able to hear the solution “sloshing” inside the implant.

One functional concern with saline implants is an increased rate of implant deflation over time. This requires surgical correction although, if deflation occurs, saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body.

Saline breast implants also can be more difficult to use when a patient has limited tissue. Those who have had a mastectomy or who have very small breasts may find silicone gel implants to be a better choice.

Silicone Breast Implants

In 2006, the FDA declared silicone gel-filled breast implants to be safe and effective. This gave plastic surgeons the opportunity to offer their patients the choice of both silicone and saline implants.

Silicone's popularity stems from two key advantages: it's a material that is highly compatible with the body and it creates breasts that have a very natural look and feel.

Silicone breast implants have been the subject of continued improvement and study over the years. The filling and shells have been modified many times to upgrade both the safety and feel of the product.

Dr. Newman has always believed in the safety of silicone implants. Noting that there was no direct evidence the implants caused problems and that the devices were never banned in other countries, plastic surgeons offered them to their eligible patients when possible. In addition, Dr. Newman was chosen to participate in current FDA-sanctioned trials of new high-strength cohesive-gel silicone implants, also known as "gummy bear" implants.

Silicone Breast Implants Today

Reaction around the country to the FDA's decision to re-approve silicone breast implants has been positive. Silicone gel has always been held in high regard by patients and doctors for creating a soft, natural look and feel for enhanced breasts.

Ironically, another advantage of the silicone gel material contributes to the main disadvantage of the implants. The cohesive silicone filling holds together if the shell should rupture, causing what the FDA terms a “silent rupture.” Though the material is not likely to migrate out of the breast, the FDA advocates women have periodic MRI tests to ensure their implants remain intact.

Since FDA re-approval, silicone gel implants are available from Mentor and Allergan. The products come in a variety of shapes, sizes and profiles, giving you and Dr. Newman the choices you need to create the perfect breast for you.

Dr. Newman is one of only a handful of plastic surgeons in the country who is studying the next generation of silicone gel devices. As a participant in this study, Dr. Newman has some options not available to other surgeons. For the right candidates, these advanced silicone gel implants can offer important durability advantages while still looking and feeling like natural breast tissue.

Don't feel dismayed by the wide range of implant choices available. Dr. Newman has the experience to help you decide which one is right for you.

If you would like to set up an initial consultation at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center with Dr. Newman, please contact his New York City, New York office today.