Silicone vs Saline Implants

All currently available breast implants consist of an outer casing (the ‘shell’ or ‘wall’) and an inner filler material.  Irrespective of whether the implant is filled with saline or silicone, the walls of all implants are basically the same - a silicone rubber.  Essentially, therefore, it is only the inner filler material that distinguishes a Saline from a Silicone implant. 

Silicone and saline implants have different characteristics and the following table summarises the main points of difference between the two:

	Saline Implants	Silicone Gel Implants
Outer Casing or “Shell”	Silicone Rubber	Silicone Rubber
Filler Material	Saline (Salt Water)	Cohesive Silicone Gel
'Feel' of the Implants to Touch	Less natural (more of a 'waterbed' feel) & therefore less popular	More natural (approximate the consistency of breast tissue) & therefore more popular
Consequences of Rupture	A Saline Implant simply deflates. The saline is absorbed by the surrounding tissues without any tissue reaction or harmful effect.	Cohesive Gel has a shape-retaining memory and in the event of wall rupture will not leak out of the implant like the former liquid silicone implants did.
Chances of Spontaneous Deflation	Possible. It has been estimated that over 7 years as many as 50% of patients with saline implants will experience leaking and deflation.  Saline Implants with a valve are more likely to leak than pre-filled Saline Implants without a valve.	None
Possibility of Silicone Gel “Bleed” through the Shell	None	Possible
Chances of Surface Wrinkling/Rippling	Greater	Less
Chances of Capsular Contracture	Less (approximately 3%)	Greater with Smooth & Textured Gel Implants (16.8% at 8 years) NB. Polyurethane Foam-covered Gel Implants approximately 1%