Saline Breast Implants: The new normal in breast augmentation?

Should I get saline implants for my breast augmentation?  I have heard they are  safer and better. 

Any surgeon specializing in breast enhancement procedures wants to use an implant that is safe and comfortable.  But the implants have to look and feel great and be long lasting. Both silicone implants and saline implants have been studied in millions of patients and have extremely high patient satisfaction rates and are proven to be very safe.  One recent study even confirmed lower  breast cancer rates in women breast implants.  While both types of implants are commonly used, there are some advantages to saline implants that have led me to  recommended them more and more over the years.
Our practice has become a recognized specialty center in  saline implant augmentation. 

Here are the top 7 advantages  of saline implants: 

• They can be left in  for years or even decades.  There is no need for removal in 10 years.   
• Saline implants are generally  very comfortable and soft and do look terrific.
• If they do rupture,  the water gets absorbed and is just like IV fluid and completely harmless.
• You do not need MRIs or ultrasounds  or any special  testing to take pictures of the implants, just routine mammography  as recommended.  
• They are  adjustable in size by up to 50 cc, so minor breast asymmetry  or size differences can be corrected easily.
• Incisions can be smaller than  silicone implants   
• If the implant  ever breaks or ruptures, it is easily detectable  because of deflation. There is no such thing as “silent rupture “, which can occur with gel implants. 

There are some  minor potential disadvantages to saline implants versus silicone.  But these are not common and can be avoided in most cases by an experienced  breast implant plastic surgeon:  

Saline implants are slightly more firm to the touch than silicone implants. 

They have the potential to have folds or ripples that can be visible at possibly a higher rate than silicone (though I have not seen  this in my practice) . 

The 3 common brands of saline implants include Mentor,  IDEAL, and Allergan Natrelle.   They generally seem equivalent  to me in terms of outcome.   The main difference is the IDEAL implant  has more structure to it , with 2 separate filling compartments.  Their company claims they are more comfortable and more like gel than  the standard single compartment saline implants.  As I was the first  surgeon to use IDEAL implants in the region, I have extensive experience with them. 

In 20 years of practice, I have yet to have the patient come to me with saline implants complaining of  illness, significant discomfort, or any major complications.  I have found that the rate of capsule contracture and rupture  are very low, but these  complications can occur.   I also have many patients who have implants in place for well over a decade without any problems and are extremely happy. 

Who are are happiest breast augmentation patients? 

The patient satisfaction rate of implant surgery is over 96% ( “worth it” rating on realself.com).  Almost all my patients state is was one of their best decisions.  I emphasize recommending surgery for patients who are choosing surgery for the right reasons, and steer people away from surgery when I have concerns that surgery may not meet their expectations.   Here’s what makes a happy patient after breast implant surgery:   

• Having a significant and generally noticeable deformity before surgery  
• Being in excellent health overall, both physically and emotionally  
• Having a generally positive self image and content state of being   
• Not being “overly obsessed” with their deformity, where it is all they can think about  
• Proceeding with caution with implants in larger breasted patients and those with lots  of skin droop 

You can learn more at www.drsuzman.com or make an appointment to meet with Dr. Suzman with an in person or virtual visit. 

Dr. Michael Suzman  is a plastic surgeon at Summit Medical Group  in New York  and  Greenwich Connecticut.  He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons,  and the member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and The Aesthetic Society, the leading  organization for Board certified  specialists in plastic surgery in the world.