The Pros and Cons of Saline Breast Implants

When it comes to breast implant filler types, women have two choices. A patient can either choose saline or silicone. Both have been successfully used for years and are associated with a low complication rate. Some patients prefer one filler type over the other, based on their body type, the surgical approach that they desire, or the feel of the implant once it is under the skin. Saline breast implants offer a number of benefits, but they also have a few downsides. As with any surgery, the patient should extensively discuss her concerns with the surgeon before undergoing any procedure.

Factors to Consider

Saline implants have a number of benefits, including:

• Price: Saline implants are less expensive than silicone implants because the surgical process to place them is often less complicated.
• Smaller incision: Because saline implants are placed before they are filled, they require a shorter incision than silicone implants.
• Incision options: Saline implants can be placed with all of the breast augmentation incisional techniques. With silicone implants, there are limitations to the size of the implants that can be placed through certain incision approaches. For example, large silicone implants can’t be placed via the areolar, transaxillary, or transumbilical incisional approaches.
• Deflation: When a leak affects saline implants, the problem is noticeable. The implants will completely deflate and the body safely absorbs the saline solution. With silicone implants, the silicone gel stays in place, making it more difficult to detect a rupture. Patients with silicone implants are required to undergo routine MRIs to check for leaks. If a leak has occurred and the silicone has traveled to another area of the breast, surgery is required to remove the silicone gel.
• Symmetry: Because saline implants are filled after they are placed in the breast pocket,the surgeon has more control over the size of each implant during surgery. If there are any issues with symmetry, the surgeon can fill one implant with additional saline solution to make both breasts appear more uniform in size and shape.

There are also some disadvantages that are associated with saline implants. Surgeons and patients agree that saline implants look and feel less natural than their silicone counterparts. This, however, often has to do with where and how the implant is placed, along with the patient’s body type. Placing the implant beneath the chest muscle makes saline implants look more natural. In women with a sufficient amount of natural breast tissue, the difference between saline and silicone implants is barely noticeable. However, in very thin women who lack natural breast tissue, saline implants do not look or feel as natural as silicone implants.

Durability

All implants are designed to be durable enough to withstand years of wear and tear once implanted in a woman’s body. That being said, saline implants are more likely to ripple or fold under the skin.

Although saline implants are associated with a higher rate of rippling, they are associated with a lower rate of capsular contracture when compared to their silicone counterparts.

Surgery and Recovery

In most cases, saline implants are placed beneath the natural breast tissue, producing a natural look and feel for the breast. Incisions can be made either beneath the breasts in the inframammary crease, around the areolar, or in the armpit. Breast augmentation recovery time depends on the strain put on the body during the surgery, and how well the patient follows to surgeon’s post-operative instructions. Saline breast implants should be closely monitored for leakages or rippling, especially in those first few months as the implants are settling into their place.

For more information about saline breast implants, contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery today.