Pros and Cons of Saline Breast Implants

There are a number of choices that women who wish to have breast augmentation will need to make. Among these are implant size and profile (the ratio of the width to the height of the implant), if the implant will be placed in front or behind the pectoral chest muscles, as well as the technique for inserting the implants. However, the first, and perhaps most important, decision will be whether to go with silicone or saline implants. Each implant material has a variety of pros and cons, and Dr. Crawford will work closely with the patient to help her select the type of implant that will best suit her needs.

Pros of Saline Breast Implants

Perhaps the biggest advantage of saline implants is that there is no undue risk of implant rupture. Unlike with silicone implants, a saline implant that ruptures can be spotted almost right away. The size of the breast will begin to shrink as the saline leaks out of the implant. Fortunately, the saline is harmless and simply reabsorbed back into the body. Silicone implants that leak can go undetected, and may lead to breast hardening.

Another advantage of saline implants is that the size and profile of the implants can be changed if the patient wishes to enlarge or reduce the size of their breasts. Saline implants are first placed and then filled to the desired amount. If the patient changes her mind later about the size, Dr. Crawford can increase or decrease the size of the implants with just a syringe full of saline. Silicone implants have a fixed volume and profile, so a patient who wants to change implant size or profile will need to undergo another surgical procedure.

A third advantage of saline implants, also related to the fact that they are placed before being inflated, is that the incision will generally be smaller than that needed for silicone implants.

Cons of Saline Implants

Many patients and surgeons feel that silicone implants provide a more natural look and feel. Because the saline cannot completely fill out the volume of the outer shell of the implant, there may be ripples along its seam line. This concept is easily demonstrated by filling a plastic food storage bag with water and noticing the ripples along the bottom seam of the bag. These ripples may actually show through the skin, particularly in women with narrow chests who may not have enough natural breast skin to properly cover the implants. In other cases, the entire implant may be noticeable.

Although it is easier to spot an implant rupture with saline than with silicone implants, the saline implants are also more prone to rupture. This may be a consideration for women who do not want to replace their implants before they wear out naturally (about every 10 years).

Whichever implant filler type a woman selects. Dr. Crawford will do his best to give her the most natural feel and look to her enhanced breast, but without sacrificing patient safety. Contact Crawford Plastic Surgery today to schedule a breast augmentation consultation.