What is the main difference between silicone and saline breast implants, and are silicone implants safe?
Breast implants are medical devices with a solid silicone, elastic shell. The implant shell may be filled with either saline solution (sterile salt water) or silicone gel. Both saline and silicone gel breast implants are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are safe for implantation. Approval means that an implant has been rigorously researched and tested, and reviewed by an independent panel of physicians for safety. Silicone implants have been recently re-approved for use with primary breast augmentation. Silicone implants have a more natural feel, are more expensive, and have to be placed through a larger incision. Saline implants are less expensive, are placed through a smaller incision, so there is usually less scarring, and a leak is easier to detect since the implants simply deflate.
