Question:
What is the difference between silicone and saline implants? Can you speak about different cases in which each implant was specifically chosen?
Answer:
The main difference between silicone and saline implants is what is contained within the shell. The shell of both implants is made out of silicone. Of course, in the saline implant there is saline water and in the silicone implant it is filled with a silicone gel. Nowadays these silicone implants have a cohesive gel. They are also called gummy bear implants which mean that if the implant is cut in half the gel does not leak out. The main difference from a cosmetic point of view is how the implants feel. The implants will have the same shape and the same size, the same overall look but the feel is very different. Both implants can be used safely. However, in patients who have very little breast tissue to begin with, saline implants can be very palpable and may cause some rippling and therefore in those specific cases a silicone implant may be a better choice. Also, in patients who are very active in activities such as Pilates or Yoga, a silicone implant is much softer and may interfere less with these types of activities.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.