Saline and Cohesive Silicone Gel Breast Implants for Natural-looking Results

Breast augmentation patients have a variety of choices including the size, shape, placement, and type of breast implants to use. At Silkwood Medical in Sydney, cosmetic plastic surgeon Benjamin Norris has helped many women achieve their desired appearance with natural-looking saline and cohesive silicone gel breast implants. Women often ask which type of implant is better or safer to use for their operation. Both implant types have advantages and disadvantages. During your consultation, Dr Norris can recommend which type of implant is most suited to your individual aesthetic goals. However, the breast implants used are ultimately your choice.

Saline Breast Implants
Cohesive Silicone Gel Breast Implants
Safety of Breast Implants

Saline Breast Implants

Saline breast implants are made of a silicone rubber shells that are inflated with a sterile saltwater solution after they are inserted into the breasts. These implants have a self-sealing valve on the front where they are filled. They come in round and teardrop shapes and a variety of sizes to suit your individual contouring needs and provide natural-looking breast augmentation results.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Although some women prefer silicone implants because of their soft, natural feel, new saline implant technologies are very soft and durable and cost a fraction of the price. Saline breast implants are filled with a solution that can be easily absorbed by the body if a leak or rupture occurs.

Because saline breast implants are essentially filled with water, wrinkling or rippling can be evident, especially in very thin women who have minimal breast tissue to cover the implants. However, rippling can be camouflaged by placing the implant underneath the chest muscle. Another disadvantage for saline breast implants is that they can rupture due to injury, normal wear and tear, implant age, and other factors. In addition, the implants pose a risk for capsular contracture, a condition in which scar tissue forms around the implants which causes the breasts to harden.

Cohesive Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Cohesive silicone gel breast implants are made of a thick, durable silicone shell to prevent leakage that can occur with traditional saline implants. Silicone implants are filled with a thick, cohesive gel that acts like a solid instead of a liquid. Because its consistency is similar to that of a gummy bear, it holds together well and retains the natural give and feel of breast tissue. In addition, it will not leak should the implant rupture. Cohesive silicone gel breast implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes to help you achieve your breast surgery goals.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Like their saline counterparts, cohesive silicone gel implants have both advantages and disadvantages. Unlike with saline implants, should the outside shell of cohesive silicone gel implants rupture, the silicone will not leak out. Instead, the silicone will maintain its shape and stability. In addition, the gel does not move according to body movement like saline does. The gel maintains its distribution for support and shape. There is less chance of developing capsular contracture with cohesive silicone gel implants.

One of the major disadvantages for these breast implants is that they require a larger incision either in the crease beneath the breast or around the nipple and areola. However, many women agree that a larger incision is worth the natural look and feel of cohesive silicone gel implants.

Safety of Breast Implants