Thinking about breast augmentation? So there are a number of questions running through your mind: cost, procedure, risks, side effects… and maybe also the choice of implants. Although many people think that breast implants are always made of silicone, there are now other options, including saline implants.
Silicone breast implants vs. saline implants: what are the pros and cons of each? And above all, how can they help you feel better in your body?
Silicone breast implants: pros and cons
As the name suggests, silicone breast implants are made of silicone gel that can vary in firmness. For example, cohesive gel implants (also known as gummy bear implants) are firmer than traditional silicone gel implants. Available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, silicone implants have a predefined volume that can be examined before surgery to better visualize the final result.
While many claim that silicone implants are closer to the consistency of a natural breast than saline implants, it is important to know that silicone hardens over time and that after a few months or years, the breast can become harder. Add to this the fact that long-term complications – contracture of the fibrous capsule (hardening of the breasts), calcification of the fibrous capsule (formation of bone in the scar envelope), the appearance of long-term seroma and silent rupture – are higher and you will understand that silicone implants will often have to be removed or replaced after about ten years, sometimes less.
Although silicone breast implants are still among the most widely used on the market, it is important to know that they are far from flawless.
Disadvantages of silicone implants and gummy bear implants
- Their predefined volume: yes, this is a good thing, but it is also a bad thing, because it means that minor adjustments after the insertion will not be possible.
- They require a larger incision along the breast crease, again due to the predefined volume. Therefore, the risk of having a more visible postoperative scar is greater.
- Rupture detection is more difficult, hence its nickname “silent rupture”. As a result, they require regular monitoring, usually by MRI, which adds an additional cost and concern to the entire process.
- Speaking of cost: since the manufacturing of silicone implants is more complex, the price of the implant itself is higher.
- Although rare, rupture of implants can occur. The exact consequences of such a phenomenon are not yet known, as studies are still ongoing. However, changes in the size or shape of the breast, pain, nerve damage, degeneration of tissues in direct contact with the silicone gel, calcification of the fibrous capsule, appearance of granulomas, migration of the silicone gel, induration of breast tissue are among the possible repercussions of a leak.
- Over time, breasts with silicone implants will harden, making the touch very unnatural.
- Their lifespan is limited to about ten years, and given the complications often observed, their replacement or secondary surgeries due to local complications are often long and complex and, by the same token, much more expensive than the initial surgery.
That said, many cosmetic surgeons still recommend silicone implants, which is not the case for Dr. Mario F. Bernier, who instead recommends physiological saline implants.
Let’s see why.
Saline breast implants: solution to the danger of silicone?
In 1992, silicone implants deemed dangerous were banned by Health Canada, only to be finally rehabilitated in 2006. During this period, physiological saline implants predominated.
While the exact consequences of a silicone leak in the body remain to be determined, the saline solution used in this type of implant poses no risk. In the event of a rupture, it is absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. In addition, while silicone is characterized by a silent rupture, that associated with a saline solution is immediately noticeable since the implant deflates.
Another point of comparison with silicone: the size of the incision. It will be smaller – as will the scar – because saline implants are not pre-filled. It is therefore possible to perform breast augmentation via the axillary route, leaving only a very small scar under the armpit. This particularity also leaves the possibility of adjusting the size of the implant during the operation to guarantee the symmetrical balance of the placement. And last but not least, their lifespan is longer compared to that of silicone models.
While some people criticize the less natural look and feel of breasts with saline implants, it is important to know that this is not entirely true. First, because, as mentioned above, the natural feel of silicone implants is short-lived as they harden over the years. Second, because choosing the right physiological saline implant for the patient will give a natural result.
Note that the rupture of a saline implant (which only happens in very rare cases) is harmless, and that the surgical operation to replace the damaged implant is much simpler and less risky than in the case of a silicone implant.
So, between silicone implants and saline implants, who wins the match? At the Dr. Mario F. Bernier Clinic for Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine, there is no doubt: what matters is the safety of our patients and the long-term result.
Because discussion and listening are at the heart of each procedure, the teams at Dr. Mario F. Bernier’s clinic will take the time to discuss with you, understand your expectations, motivations, and concerns, and explain why we chose physiological saline implants. Also, don’t hesitate to read our clients’ comments on the service received and the results obtained!
Sources : Clinique de chirurgie et médecine esthétique Dr Mario F. Bernier. Ultimate guide to breast augmentation. 2024.