Saline or silicone? This is one of the most difficult decisions for a patient considering breast augmentation. Each patient must decide for themselves what is most important. The lower cost, shorter scar and piece of mind of a saline implant vs. the softness and decreased risk of rippling of a silicone implant.
In the near future, there will likely be another choice, the Ideal™ breast implant. The Ideal™ breast implant is a new breast implant that has some of the advantages of both saline breast implants and silicone breast implants. It is a saline filled implant but with a couple of significant modifications that have been shown to increase softness and minimize rippling. It has two saline filled chambers, one inside the other. With perforated internal shells to minimize fluid shifts and rippling. The shape is designed to give a less “rounded” shape and improved projection at the center of the implant.
This is being referred to as a “hybrid breast implant”, having many of the best qualities of both saline and silicone breast implants. Soft with minimal rippling like a silicone implant with the safety and short scar of a saline implant. The cost will be similar to that of a silicone breast implant.
Currently this is under the scrutiny of the FDA but may be approved as early as next year. I am pretty excited to see this on the horizon. Many patients are concerned about the potential problems associated with silicone implants in the event of a leak but could really benefit from the softness of a silicone implant. The Ideal™ implant may indeed be the ideal breast implant for them.
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