Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that involves the placement of an implantable medical device behind the breast or chest muscle. This procedure can benefit naturally small-breasted women, those who have lost breast volume after breastfeeding or major weight loss, and those with breasts of different sizes or shapes.
One of the most significant parts of planning and preparing for breast augmentation is picking the right kind of implants. Currently, the most popular options for breast enhancement are saline and silicone breast implants.
Read to discover the differences between these implants based on various factors:
Flexibility
Silicone implants are already filled when inserted in the breast. Thus, they have a fixed size and cannot be adjusted. But saline implants are inserted empty and then filled, offering surgeons the ability to adjust the size of the implants as needed. This makes them ideal for patients who want to correct issues with asymmetrical or uneven breasts. The ability to make minor adjustments after insertion of saline implants will make it easier to tailor the results according to the patient’s goals and expectations.
Feel and Look
Silicone implants have aesthetic benefits. While both silicone and saline breast implants can provide you with a natural look, silicone implants have a reputation of offering a more natural look and feel. In addition, silicone implants are softer and less prone to rippling, which makes them an ideal choice for transfeminine patients with little natural breast tissue for covering their implants. But, the majority of those who have smaller breasts might notice that saline implants do not feel quite the same as their natural breasts. These implants might have a watery feel and a higher potential for developing visible rippling.
Leak Detection
Both saline and silicone implants can rupture; however, a silicone implant rupture might not be obvious. This has to do with the cohesiveness of the silicone gel that tends to cling together. That is why it doesn’t usually leak out of the implant unless there is a big tear. But, if the gel leaks, if often stays contained in the scar tissue capsule that forms around the implant.
Meanwhile, if a saline implant ruptures, the water tends to leak out quickly and it gets absorbed by the body without ill effects. If this occurs, the implant will deflate, causing a noticeable change in the size and shape of the breast within one or two days.
