In our previous installment of Breast Implants 101, we discussed implant Shape and how the shape of an implant changes the results of a breast augmentation. The appearance, shape and size of the breasts can be significantly improved with a Breast Augmentation. The final result of your procedure not only depends on the skill and expertise of your board-certified plastic surgeon, but also on which implants you choose and how they're implanted. Your plastic surgeon will discuss all of the options, benefits and risks associated with Breast Augmentation surgery.
The next feature we'll be discussing today is Filler.
The Filler of a breast implant is the type of material that fills the inside of the breast implant. Filler not only affects the way an implant looks or feels, but also how they are implanted during surgery.
Not All Silicone Implants are “Silicone”
When most people think of breast implants, they immediately think of or refer to them as “silicone implants.” While it’s true that all breast implants have a silicone shell or lumen, this shell is not always filled with silicone.
Breast implants can be silicone gel-filled or saline-filled. Both types of implants offer distinct advantages and disadvantages. As always, you should consult a qualified plastic surgeon to discuss all of the options, benefits and risks associated with using either saline-filled or gel-filled breast implants.
Saline
Saline-filled breast implants are filled with a medical-grade, sterile saline or salt water solution. Saline implants come in various sizes, shapes and profiles and the surface of the implant can be either smooth or textured. One of the main advantages to saline-filled implants is the fact that the saline or a salt water solution that fills it is compatible with the human body. If the implant should ever rupture, the solution is absorbed harmlessly into the body. In addition, the rupture is almost always immediately apparent as the size difference between the two breasts following a rupture is easily noticeable.
Unlike pre-filled silicone breast implants, saline-filled breast implants are filled after placement and many saline implants can be adjusted after surgery. Because they are implanted inside a woman’s body while they are empty, saline-filled breast implants typically require shorter incisions than silicone-filled breast implants. During breast implant surgery, the empty shell is placed inside the woman's body and then filled with saline. The doctor can use a syringe to add or remove solution until they achieve the desired, individual result. Silicone-filled breast implants cannot be adjusted and are implanted pre-filled.
Saline-filled breast implants can be inserted using inframammary (crease where the breast and chest come together), periareolar (nipple), transaxillary (armpit) or TUBA (belly button) incisions. Saline-filled breast implants are versatile and they can be placed in a subglandular (over the muscle), partial submuscular (only a top portion of the implant is covered by muscle) or complete submuscular (under the muscle). Due to the greater chance for rippling and wrinkling, most saline-filled breast implants are placed in the submuscular position. Women who are very slim or thin and have little breast tissue (including women undergoing reconstruction), may also be more likely to develop visible rippling.
How they feel
Many factors including positioning and body type determine the touch and feel of a breast implant. Judging the look and feel is also very subjective from patient to patient.
Many women prefer the more natural feel of silicone gel breast implants to that of saline-filled implants and some describe saline-filled breast implants as having a feeling like that of a water balloon. Saline-filled implants are also often described as feeling firm while their silicone counterparts are often described as feeling much more natural to the touch and closer in feel to natural breast tissue.
Next time, we’ll continue our discussion of Fillers with silicone-filled breast implants