Saline vs Silicone

Saline vs Silicone

Fact, Fiction & Hype

Basic Facts

Saline implants are far less expensive than silicone implants and have far fewer problems. The only reason to ever consider silicone is if you're very thin and are considering going above the muscle. Silicone implants feel slightly softer than saline implants when you hold them in your hands, but when they're implanted beneath the muscle, it's hard to feel a difference.
You must be at least 18 for saline & at least 22 years old for silicone.

Technical Facts

Saline implants are inflated only after they've been inserted into place through tiny incisions. Silicone implants require larger incisions because they come pre-filled with gel. Attempts to forcefully squeeze them through small incisions may damage the protective shell. Along the same lines, if your breasts are unequal in size, they are more likely to stay uneven if a larger implant is unavailable for the smaller side. With saline implants, the volume can be adjusted to make the sizes match.

Long Term Facts

Saline implants are less prone to hardening (capsular contracture) than silicone implants. A broken, or ruptured, saline implant deflates rapidly, obviously and the saline is harmlessly absorbed by your body. The ruptured implant does not stick to breast tissue and is easily replaced. The FDA recommends that women with silicone implants undergo a breast MRI every two years at their own expense to make sure the implants haven't ruptured.

Remember

Choosing a proper implant size is not an exact science. Your breast measurements and texture will determine how much extra volume you can carry without overstressing your body, but you will find cosmetic improvement over a range of different volumes. There is more than one "right size" that will enhance your appearance.

Breast augmentation is not an emergency. Take the time to consider different sizes. If you're still not sure, you can buy yourself a few bras in the sizes that you're considering, stuff them, and spend a few days trying out each size.