Once you have decided to have a breast augmentations, there are different options available to you, the biggest one being, which type of breast implants should you choose?
There are two types of breast implants: silicone and saline. With both types, the outer shell made of silicone but the interior differs in material and consistency. For saline, the implants are inserted empty, and then once in place they are filled with sterile salt water. Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel, a thick and sticky fluid that imitates the feel of human fat. Most women who choose a silicone breast augmentation feel the silicone implants feel and look like natural breast tissue.
While the feel is more realistic with silicone implants, saline implants have advantages as well. The cost of saline breast implants is typically less than silicone gel implants. In the case of an implant rupture, it would be immediately known with saline implants due to the change in shape and size of the breast. Your body would harmlessly absorb the leaking saline from the breast implant. When a silicone gel implant ruptures, the gel is structured to hold together inside the capsule and not travel to surrounding body areas, and though it is not toxic, a rupture might not be immediately known. Often an MRI needs to be performed to monitor the health of the implants.
Women with moderately sized breasts who wish to enlarge their cup size would not see much significant difference between saline and silicone implants. However, women with minimal breast tissue and wish for much larger breasts will attain a more natural feel and have a lower chance of rippling (the rippling of the breast implant surface that may be see and/or felt), with silicone gel implants. Bottom line, most women who choose a silicone breast augmentation think the silicone implants feel and look like natural breast tissue, where women who choose saline tend to have rounder breasts and often compare the feel to that of water balloons.
If you are considering a breast augmentation and want to discuss breast implant options in depth, email me directly at DrAzad@KamranAzadMD.com, to schedule a free consultation.