Breasts symbolize different attributes of womanhood: liberty, nourishment, motherhood, and beauty. Small or disproportionate breasts can leave women feeling unhappy with their appearance and rattle some of those qualities.
Breast augmentation, informally known as a “boob job,” is a powerful procedure that can enhance breast size, shape, symmetry, and overall proportions. For many women, this breast surgery is an opportunity to create a breast contour that feels more balanced with the rest of their body and better reflects their aesthetic goals.
However, breast augmentation involves several options that affect the final result. One of the most important decisions is choosing between silicone and saline breast implants. While both types of breast implants can create attractive, natural-looking results, they differ in feel, filling material, incision requirements, and other characteristics. Understanding the differences between silicone and saline breast implants can help you prepare for your consultation with Dr. Doezie.
What Are My Breast Implant Options?
At Mission Plastic Surgery, both silicone and saline implants are available for breast augmentation. The right choice depends on factors such as your existing breast tissue, desired size and shape, and the result you want to achieve.
Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone implants have a silicone outer shell prefilled with a cohesive silicone gel. The gel is designed to closely mimic the softness and movement of natural breast tissue, which is why many patients prefer silicone implants when a natural look and feel are a priority. This option may be especially appealing for women who have thinner breast tissue.
Saline Breast Implants
Saline implants also have a silicone outer shell, but they are filled with a sterile saltwater solution. Dr. Doezie inserts the implant while it’s still empty, then fills it with saline during the surgery. This allows him to adjust the fluid volume during the procedure, which is useful when addressing breast asymmetry.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Silicone and Saline Implants?
There is no single implant that is automatically best for every breast augmentation patient. Comparing silicone vs. saline breast implants means looking at the characteristics that matter most to you, from softness and incision size to age eligibility and overall appearance.
Saline Breast Implants: Pros and Cons
Some of the advantages of saline implants include:
- Potential lower costs: The material required for saline implants usually costs less than silicone implants. Because manufacturers ship saline implants as an empty shell, it lowers factory production and shipping costs.
- Age eligibility: Saline implants are FDA-approved for breast augmentation beginning at 18 years old.
Potential drawbacks of saline implants include:
- Firmer feel: Saline implants can feel somewhat firmer than silicone gel implants.
- More noticeable implant edges or rippling: Saline implants may be easier to see or feel beneath the skin, particularly in patients with thinner natural breast tissue.
Silicone Breast Implants: Pros and Cons
Patients who are considering silicone implants may appreciate several advantages:
- Shape retention: Silicone implants hold a realistic, stable shape even when the outer shell experiences stress.
- Natural feel: Silicone gel imitates the soft texture and movement of natural breasts.
- Customization: Silicone implants are available in different sizes, shapes, profiles, and levels of gel cohesiveness, giving Dr. Doezie several options when planning your desired breast contour.
Cons can include:
- Higher costs: Silicone implants use advanced, medical-grade gel technology that is more complex and expensive to manufacture.
- Age eligibility: Silicone gel implants are FDA-approved for breast augmentation starting at 22 years old.
How Does Implant Choice Affect Incision and Placement?
Choosing between silicone and saline implants can influence how your breast augmentation is performed. Your anatomy, implant size, and desired outcome help Dr. Doezie determine the best surgical approach, including incision location and implant placement.
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
Dr. Doezie is best known for the transaxillary incision, which he prefers when appropriate for the patient. With this technique, the incision is placed within the armpit, and an endoscope is used to help position the breast implant. Since the incision is away from the breast skin, there is no scar directly on the breast itself.
Dr. Doezie believes the transaxillary approach can produce an excellent aesthetic outcome while keeping the incision discreetly located in the underarm.
Other options include:
- Inframammary incision: Placed within the natural crease underneath the breast.
- Periareolar incision: Created around the outer border of the areola.
Breast Implant Placement Options
Silicone and saline breast implants may also be positioned at different depths within the breast:
- Subpectoral placement: The implant is placed beneath the pectoral muscle and glandular tissue. This is the most common placement technique and can create a more natural breast slope.
- Subglandular placement: The implant is positioned beneath the glandular breast tissue but above the pectoral muscle.
While both silicone and saline implants can work with different placement techniques, Dr. Doezie will consider your implant choice, existing breast tissue, and desired breast contour when determining whether placement above or below the muscle is most appropriate.
How Do I Know Which Breast Implant Is Better for Me?
The best way to find out which breast implant is right for you is through a consultation with Dr. Allen Doezie, a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive training and experience. Dr. Doezie remains an active staff member at many local hospitals, which strengthens his plastic surgery expertise. He leads with a patient-centered philosophy of compassion and trust.
Breast augmentation is highly individualized, and Dr. Doezie knows this is a personal experience. Being in the care of a highly qualified plastic surgeon is what you can expect at Mission Plastic Surgery.
Want to Know More About Breast Augmentation in Ladera Ranch, CA?
The right breast augmentation plan depends on which breast implant is right for you, but implant size, incision location, and placement all work together to shape your final result.
Schedule a consultation at Mission Plastic Surgery to learn whether silicone or saline implants are the better fit for you by calling (949) 481-9850 or filling out our online contact form.
