One of the best ways for women to enhance their curves is to undergo breast augmentation surgery using silicone or saline implants. Breast enlargement remains the most popular cosmetic surgery in the country, with more than 300,000 surgeries performed in 2017 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Breast augmentation patients must decide if they should get saline or silicone breast implants. San Mateo, CA cosmetic surgeon John R. Griffin covers the basic pros and cons of saline breast implants. This should give you an idea of what to expect from the surgical process.
How Saline Breast Implants Work
Simply put, saline breast implants are a silicone shell that is filled with saline. Saline is a sterile saltwater solution.
The Advantages of Saline Breast Implants
The key advantages of saline breast implants are:
- Safe Filling - The saline within an implant is safe for the body. If a rupture occurs, the saline is naturally absorbed without any adverse effects.
- Easier to Detect Leaks or Ruptures - On the note of ruptures, saline implant ruptures are easier and faster to detect. This allows patients to undergo medical treatment as soon as they notice a problem.
- Multiple Incision Options - Saline implants are versatile since more solution can be added when positioned. That allows surgical incisions to be made in hidden areas of the body, such as the armpit and belly button. This scarless form of breast augmentation is only possible with saline implants.
- Potential to Adjust Size - A surgeon can slightly adjust the size of saline breast implants since it will involve adding just a bit more solution. This can help patients achieve their aesthetic goals.
- More Affordable Than Silicone - Saline breast implants tend to cost less than silicone implants.
The Disadvantages of Saline Breast Implants
The key disadvantages of saline breast implants tend to involve the appearance and feel of the implants. This includes:
- Potential for Rippling - Rippling is when the sides of the breast implant are visible through the skin of the breast. This creates a ripple pattern at certain angles which is a telltale sign of surgery.
- Less Natural Appearance - Saline breast implants tend to be rounder than silicone breast implants, which can cause the breasts to look less natural overall.
- Less Natural Texture - Given that the saline solution is just liquid rather than a gel, the texture of a patient’s breasts tends to be less natural when compared to silicone implants.
Additional Implant Factors to Consider
In addition to the composition and filling of your breast implants, other factors may play a role in determining the final results of surgery. This includes the profile of the breast implant, which refers to the amount of outward or forward projection.
The placement of the implant relative to the pectoral muscle also makes a difference in terms of final breast augmentation results.
Discussing Your Breast Augmentation Options
Given the various considerations when it comes to saline implants, it’s important to discuss these matters in greater detail in a consultation. During your visit, we can discuss your aesthetic goals and compare how saline implants and silicone implants may help.
We want to make sure you have all of the information available to make a well-informed and empowered decision about your breast augmentation procedure.
Learn More about Breast Implants
For more information about breast augmentation surgery and how it can benefit you, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon. Dr. Griffin and our team will be more than happy to offer their insight regarding your cosmetic goals.
