Saline vs. Silicone and Other Important Factors When Choosing Your Breast Implants

Posted on October 1, 2018 by: Dr. Ronald DeMars

Saline vs Silicone Implants Look

Your breast augmentation surgery will be carefully tailored to your goals and anatomy. With the guidance of our talented Portland breast surgeon, Dr. Ronald DeMars, you will select the implants that are most likely to give you the results you want to achieve while flattering your natural body proportions.

Read on as Dr. DeMars discusses the factors you will need to consider when choosing your breast implants.

Saline vs. Silicone

One of the first decisions you will make about breast augmentation is whether to go with saline or silicone implants. Saline implants have a silicone shell containing a sterile saltwater solution. They can be filled during the surgery to the desired size. Saline implants are approved by the FDA for breast augmentation patients that are at least 18 years of age, and breast reconstruction patients of any age.

Silicone implants have a silicone shell containing a silicone gel material. They come pre-filled from the manufacturer. Silicone implants are currently FDA approved for breast augmentation patients that are at least 22 years of age, or breast reconstruction patients of any age.

According to Dr. DeMars, all breast implants, whether saline or silicone, currently manufactured in the U.S. are considered safe long-term devices.

Size

Implants come in a variety of sizes and are measured in cubic centimeters, or “CCs.” Selecting implant size largely depends on the type of results you hope to achieve as well as your body proportions. The same size implant looks very different on a short, petite woman from the way it looks on a tall, curvy woman.

Shape

Round implants are spherical, which may be ideal if you desire more fullness at the top of your breasts. Teardrop implants have a gentle slope, with more fullness concentrated at the bottom of the implant.

Texture

Smooth implants are sleek, so they can move around within the breast pockets. Textured implants have a rough surface that gives them traction, so they remain in their initial position. This is particularly important with teardrop-shaped implants, which must maintain their original orientation to avoid looking distorted.

Incision

Breast implants can be inserted through an incision around the areola (the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple) or an incision in the inframammary fold (the crease where the bottom of the breast meets the torso). Since saline implants are usually filled after the shells have been placed, they tend to require a shorter incision than their pre-filled silicone alternatives.

Brand

Since Dr. DeMars last blogged about the three approved breast implant brands, the FDA approved a fourth company: Ideal Implant Incorporated, which manufacturers a structured saline implant called the Ideal Implant®.

Picking the Implants That Are Right for You

During a one-on-one consultation with Dr. DeMars, the two of you will discuss what you hope to achieve from breast augmentation, and the doctor will examine your natural breasts and body proportions. Based on this information, the two of you will select the implants most likely to give you the look and feel you desire.

To book a breast augmentation consultation with Dr. DeMars, please contact our Portland practice today.