Silicone vs. Saline Breast Implants

Since the 1990’s, when silicone implants were taken off the U.S. market due to unsubstantiated health concerns, there has been a debate as to which breast implant type, silicone or saline, is the safest and most natural looking. Now that silicone implants have been approved by the FDA again, it is important to learn about the positive and negative aspects of each before deciding which type of implant is right for you. The information below is provided by Dr. Mandraccia to help educate you on both implant types and assist you in the decision-making process.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline implants consist of a silicone rubber shell that is filled with a saline (salt water) solution. They can be a fixed volume, meaning they are filled and sealed at the time of surgery and cannot be adjusted. Or, they can be adjustable using a small valve that can be sealed post-operatively after the amount of saline has been adjusted.

In addition to offering adjustable or fixed options, saline implants also offer the following benefits:

• It is much easier to detect if the saline breast implant has ruptured because it will deflate
• It is easier to replace a ruptured saline breast implant
• Saline breast implants have a lower rate of capsulation (when the body forms a fibrous tissue around the implant) and deflation than silicone

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone implants have a silicone rubber shell that is filled with a fixed amount of silicone gel. Although they are not adjustable and have a higher deflation rate, many breast implant patients find that they have a more natural look and feel than saline implants.

Silicone breast implants were first developed in the 1960s and widely used in breast augmentation until reports surfaced that silicone implants were linked to cancer and neurological disease in the 1990’s. Despite these reports, the medical community never found proof of this connection. In response, the FDA restricted their use in the U.S. for 14 years. During this period, they were still being widely used by cosmetic surgeons in Europe and other areas of the world. After extensive research, the FDA approved the use of silicone implants again in November 2006 for breast reconstruction in women of all ages and breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older.

The advances in silicone breast implants has improved, they are markedly different from the older devices with a firmer consistency and much less risk of gel leak. They, as well as the saline implants are now include a warranty for the life if they should fail. Rippling is almost completely resolved with the use of the new gels and many women are making the choice to switch. The downtime is usually much less for a second procedure to replace your old breast implants.

Dr. Mandraccia conducts most breast augmentation procedures under sedation with certified nurse anesthesia present. His on-site, certified operating room has been certified by the Florida Board of Health as meeting its strictest requirements.

If you are located in the Bonita Springs, Florida area and would like to learn more about breast augmentation surgery or the saline and silicone breast implants offered by Dr. Mandraccia, please contact our office today. Dr. Mandraccia’s office is located near the new Coconut Point Shopping Center, one of Florida’s largest!

• Cosmetic Facial Procedures
• Cosmetic Body Procedures
• Surgical Hair Restoration
• What to Expect the Day of Your Surgery
• Choosing a Cosmetic Surgeon
• Frequently Asked Cosmetic Surgery Questions
• Frequently Asked Recovery Questions