Difference Between Saline and Silicone Implants

Saline vs Silicone Implants

There are differences between Saline and Silicone implants and knowing these differences will help patients choose the best implant to use. Getting a breast implant is a very important decision that is not to be made lightly and any concerns or questions should be discussed with a surgeon and clarified prior to making a final decision.

Saline implants are firmer than the silicone ones and do not feel like natural breast tissue. Most of the patients that have tried saline implants complain that they can feel the outer edges or the filling valves. Silicone implants on the other hand are considered to be softer, with patients unlikely to feel the outer edges and are generally considered to be the closest to having natural breasts.

Silicone implants are suggested for thinner women since there is less of a possibility for the breast to wrinkle due to the fact that they have less tissue to cover the implant. Saline implants, on the other hand are more suited for women with more breast tissue because it is less noticeable on them.

The two types of implants also differ in the way they are placed inside the breasts. Saline implants are empty bags at first but once placed inside the breast, the surgeon will fill it up with a saline (salt water) solution. Silicone implants are already filled before inserting inside the patient’s breast.

Saline implants are simpler in terms of the procedure used to insert them into a woman’s breast, which means that there is less scarring as a result. This is preferred by most women. Saline implants are rolled like a cigar and inserted inside the breast and this procedure requires only a small incision. After the implant is placed, the surgeon will fill it up and in this way surgeons have control adjusting the implant’s volume, unlike with silicone implants which are already pre-filled. Because silicone implants are pre-filled, they will need a larger incision and are harder for surgeons to adjust.

It is noticeable if a saline implant should leak, patients will feel some changes and after a few minutes the breast will deflate. With silicone implants however, patients will feel no changes at all and they won’t notice as readily if the silicone implants leak.

It is said that saline implants are safer than silicone implants because saline implants are made up of salt water which will not produce any harm should they leak. Since 70% of our body consists of water, this leakage will be harmless to the human body. Silicone implants are said to be prone to diseases which are caused by silicone migration. It happens when the silicone leaks and moves to the other part of the body and causes damages to our body. There are some claims that newer silicone implants are made cohesive which reduces the risk of having silicone migration. This innovation makes silicone implants safer.

Summary:

1.Saline implants are firmer while silicone implants are softer and feel more like natural breast tissue.
2.Saline implants are for women with more breast tissue while silicone implants are advisable for thinner women with less breast tissue.
3.Saline implants leave less scarring compared to silicone implants because the procedure involves fewer steps. The procedure for saline implants is less invasive with only a small incision needed to insert the implants. Silicon implants require a bigger cut because the bag needs to be inserted inside. The bigger the bag, the bigger the cut.
4.Saline implants are placed in the breast without filling and the surgeon transfers the fluid while the bag is inside. 5.Silicone implants are pre-filled before placing it inside the patient’s breast.
6.If a saline implant leaks, it deflates very quickly. If that happens, it will be easily felt by the patient. As for silicone implants, the leaking cannot be easily detected.
7.It is said that saline implants are safer than silicone implants because saline implants are filled with salt water. Silicone implants contain silicone that can damage the human body should it leak.

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