Which Type of Breast Implants Are Right for You?

types of breast implants

Is this you? You’ve finally made the decision to enhance your breast size through breast augmentation, but you’re still confused about which type of implant to choose? Well-meaning friends who’ve had the surgery and online forums can only answer so many of your questions. You need professional advice.

Dr. Kenneth Bermudez is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been performing breast augmentation surgery for over 20 years. In a one-on-one consultation, he can help you find the right breast implants to match your body, goals, and lifestyle. At his plastic surgery practice in San Francisco, California, Dr. Bermudez offers the saline Ideal Implant, and gel-filled (or “gummy bear”) implants. To get you started, here are some information on these and other implant types, and the advantages of each.

Saline Implants

Saline implants are made up of an outer silicone shell that is placed empty in the body during the breast augmentation procedure, and then filled with saline (sterile saltwater) to the proper size. Since they are not filled until they are placed in the body, saline implants require a smaller incision than other implant types.

Advantages:

  • Non-toxic to the body if leakage occurs
  • The most economical implant choice
  • Adjustable in size, as they are filled at insertion

Possible Disadvantages:

  • Less natural in look and feel than other implant types
  • More prone to folding or rippling than other implant types
  • For patients with thin skin or less body fat, implants may be visible

The Ideal Implant: A Breakthrough in Saline Implant Technology

Dr. Bermudez offers the latest in saline implant technology, the Ideal Implant. This saline implant has a multishell design with two separate saline-filled chambers that control the movement of the saline inside, preventing folding, rippling, and rupturing. Plus, they look and feel more natural than standard saline implants. To learn more about the Ideal Implant, schedule a consultation with Dr. Bermudez.

types of breast implants

Silicone Implants

Unlike saline implants, silicone implants come pre-filled, and therefore require a larger incision (and a larger scar). Silicone implants are made up of an outer silicone shell that is filled with a cohesive silicone gel. More expensive than saline, silicone implants are also known to look and feel more like natural breasts when compared to saline.

Advantages:

  • Looks and feels more natural than saline implants
  • Less likely to ripple or fold, or be visible through skin
  • Often lasts longer than saline implants

Possible Disadvantages:

  • More expensive than saline implants
  • Ruptures are harder to detect than with saline implants 

“Gummy Bear” Implants

Gel-filled (or “gummy-bear”) implants have a silicone outer shell that is filled with a form-stable silicone filling. This cohesive gel filling is thick, and composed of several layers, giving it the consistency of a gummy bear candy. Designed to remain stable if the implant ruptures, this implant is made up of several layers to prevent leaks. Gummy bear implants are also more similar to actual breast tissue than other implant types, as the most expensive breast implant option.

Advantages:

  • Looks and feels the closest to natural breasts, compared to other implant types

  • Available in a variety of shapes and sizes

  • Has less of a tendency to ripple, wrinkle, or fold

Possible Disadvantages:

  • Requires a longer incision than other implants

  • More expensive than other implant types

Talk to a Plastic Surgeon About Your Implant Options

To ensure that you make the right decision on decisions such as which implant type to choose and what size implant would fit with your body type, talk to board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Bermudez. In your breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Bermudez, he will discuss your goals for surgery and help you “try on” different implant types and sizes, educating you in more detail on the benefits of each. Contact us today to schedule a consulation with Dr. Bermudez, or call us at (415) 712-1800.