Q:         Now that both saline and silicone implants are available for breast augmentation, which should I choose?

 A:      Both saline and silicone implants can give excellent results for breast augmentation, and there are a number of factors which must be considered in choosing between the two. Silicone implants generally feel more natural than do saline, and may behave more like real breasts. Silicone implants are less likely to cause rippling.   In patients with more breast tissue or a thicker fat layer, however, these differences in feel and appearance may be less pronounced.

Saline implants do have some significant advantages. They generally cost approximately $1000 less per pair, can be placed through slightly smaller incisions, and are adjustable to precise volumes. The most significant advantage is that a saline deflation is easily diagnosed and corrected – the saline from the implant is absorbed by the body, leaving an empty implant behind which is simply replaced in a quick operation. Silicone implants, on the other hand, may rupture without any outward signs. Over time, the presence of silicone within the breast can be irritating to the surrounding tissues, resulting in a thickened scar, or capsular contracture, which requires a bit more surgery to correct. The FDA recommends periodic MRI screening of silicone implants, but not of saline.

Given the number of variables that affect your outcome, a thorough consultation with your Plastic Surgeon is necessary to make an informed decision.

 

Q:       What is the recovery period after breast augmentation?

A:       Over the past 20 years numerous advances have been made in the technical aspects of breast augmentation. With precise dissection techniques and a minimally traumatic operation most patients can resume normal activities within a few days and should be back to work within a week.