Everything You Wanted to Know Breast Implant Types

Saline implants made up nearly 100% of all breast implants in the U.S. in the 1990s up through its approval of silicone implants in 2006.

The FDA has approved saline implants for 10-20 years. But that doesn’t mean replacements are required every 10 years. After the 10-year mark, the FDA recommends having scans every two years to ensure the implant has not ruptured. In the rare event that a saline implant does rupture, the patient can tell quickly as the implant will quickly deflate.

Saline implants are a type of implant composed of a flexible and thin silicon “shell casing” that is embedded under a patient’s breast tissue or under their breast muscle. Whether it is placed under or over breast muscles depends on a number of things. If a patient has a moderate amount of breast tissue naturally, a saline implant can be placed under the breast tissue but over the muscle, which generally requires less recovery time.

However, there are trade offs. Though the recovery time is shorter, over-the-muscle implants have a slightly higher risk of shifting out of place. Moreover, under the muscle is generally recommended for patients seeking a less rounded look, opting for more natural looking breast implants.

Whether under or over the muscles, this silicone pouch is then filled with a saline solution. The amount of saline solution used to fill the pouch is measured in CCs, or cubic centimeters. The degree to which the silicone implant is filled allows for a range of outcomes in terms of how firm, full, rounded, and large the patient wants their results to be.

For example, a patient could have theirs filled with 300ccs saline implants would be going up by about two cup sizes, whereas a patient who had their saline implants filled with 600 ccs would have significantly more dramatic results, upping their size by four cups or more.

Saline implants remain popular because they reduce the need for significant incisions, since only the pouch casing needs to be surgically implanted. Additionally, because each saline implant can be filled with different amounts of liquid, saline implants can also even out asymmetrical breasts with a high degree of accuracy during a regular breast augmentation.

Saline implants are considered safe for patients 18 and older, whereas silicone implants are generally recommended for patients 22 years and older. Additionally, saline implants are generally less expensive than silicone implants.

Whether a saline implant is the right choice for you depends on a few factors such as financial, the amount of breast natural breast tissue you have, and what your goals are in having a breast implant surgery.

Today, the most popular breast implant type are silicone implants. Silicone implants are quite similar to saline implants conceptually. They are “shell casings” made of durable-yet-flexible silicone that are embedded into the patient’s chest.

The main point of difference is the solution used to fill these casings. Rather than a salt water solution as used in saline implants, silicone implants are filled with a silicone gel which has a much thicker consistency.

That thicker consistency gives silicone implants a much more “squishy,” pliable feel. Because of their structural consistency, silicone implants are commonly known as “gummy bear” implants for their softness and elasticity, reminiscent of gummy bears.

The silicone gel used in gummy bear implants is generally considered more similar to that of human breast tissue compared to the feel of saline implants, making them a popular option for patients seeking a more natural look and feel.

Once implanted, the silicone gel within the gummy bear implants wraps around the breasts natural contour. After it settles into position, the patient has a more ample version of their natural breast’s teardrop shape.

Though more expensive than saline implants, gummy bear implants are generally considered to feel more natural than saline implants.

Gummy bear implants are FDA-approved and widely also considered safer, with lower incidence of rupture or complications in the international medical community. Even in the rare event of a rupture, the gel is cohesive and stays in form compared to earlier generations of silicone implants.

Moreover, they are longer lasting compared to other implant types. Patients love them because they are highly customizable in both shape and size, making it easier for patients to achieve their desired look tailored to their body types.

An option of silicone breast implant, teardrop implants are designed to mimic the shape of a natural breast. Teardrop implants offer a host of benefits that have made them popular among patients seeking a personalized and natural-looking enhancement.

The teardrop shape mimics the sloping contour of a real breast, with more fullness in the lower portion and a gradual taper towards the upper pole. This is in contrast to traditional, one-shape-fits-all round implants which, dependent on the patient’s individual anatomy, gave an artificial appearance incongruous with their natural form.

Teardrop implants are available in various sizes, shapes, and projections. Whether you desire a modest enhancement or a more pronounced silhouette, teardrop implants can be customized to meet your unique needs and aesthetic goals.

Beyond the outstanding results they bring patients, teardrop implants also have a nice safety bonus: Reduced risk of rotation once implanted. Made with a mildly textured coating, these implants embed themselves into surrounding tissue minimizing the chances of displacement.

To learn more about various implant types and which ones are right for your individual body and goals, book a free consultation with one of our trained patient experience providers.