The Pros and Cons of Silicone Breast Implants

There are two types of breast implants that women can have placed during the breast augmentation procedure: saline or silicone implants. Each filler type is associated with positive and negative features. During the pre-operative consultation, plastic surgeons will review the disadvantages and advantages of each filler type, and allow the patient to view and feel both types of implants. Since the FDA approved silicone implants in 2006, silicone has become the patient favorite. However, patients should be aware of the pros and cons of silicone implants before undergoing breast augmentation surgery.

Pros

Silicone implants look and feel much more natural than saline implants. Once implanted in the breast, the augmented breasts have a more natural look and feel, which many women desire. The silicone mimics natural breast tissue, so women who desire the most natural look and feel tend to prefer a silicone filler. For women who do not have much breast tissue or fat in the chest area to begin with, silicone implants are the ideal choice; the lack of natural cushioning can make saline implants more noticeable in these patients, while silicone implants will result in a more natural look and feel.

Silicone implants are also generally more durable than saline implants. They are also less likely to fold or wrinkle. When saline implants wrinkle, this effect can often be seen through the skin, especially in this patients. In these cases, breast implant revision surgery is required to replace the implants.

Cons

The are a few downsides associated with silicone breast implants:

• Silicone implants are more expensive than saline implants, and the procedure is more involved. This results in a higher surgical price point.
• Saline implants are enlarged after they are implanted; the surgeon can inject the appropriate amount of saline solution to achieve the best proportion and address asymmetry issues. Silicone implants come in a variety of sizes, but once they are implanted, their size cannot be adjusted without further surgery.
• Since saline implants are filled after they are inserted into the body, they require a shorter incision. Silicone implants require a longer scar. In addition, there are limitations in regards to the area in which these implants can be placed. If the patient wishes to have large silicone breast implants placed, they may not be able to inserted through the areolar or transaxillary incision techniques.
• If silicone implants rupture, these ruptures are generally unnoticeable for quite some time since the silicone gel is designed to retain its shape. It is important for the patient to follow all of her doctor’s instructions when it comes to implant care, and to have regular checkups to ensure that the implant has not ruptured and is leaking in the chest cavity. In general, patients will need to undergo MRIs every couple of years to check for silicone implant leaks.

Bottom Line

Whether or not a patient chooses silicone implants is entirely dependent on her preferences. Silicone implants are more durable and more natural, but they do require a more expensive procedure and regularly schedule MRIs to check for leaks. If this is not an issue for the patient, then silicone breast implants are probably the best solution.

To schedule a breast augmentation consultation, contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery.