Each breast augmentation surgeon has his or her preference. Some prefer silicone implants purely for aesthetic reasons. Silicon breast implants tend to have a more natural texture and over all natural look to them. Others are leery of the risks associated with silicone (see below)
Breast Implants from Saline:
New saline filled implants are made with a rubber shell that may be filled to the patients requested size. Some now have a valve emplace allowing for an increase or decrease in size depending on the clients wants.
When you select an implant filled with saline you have two choices. The first is an implant that comes in a pre selected shape and size. The second implant comes with a type of valve (that is not noticeable, nor does it effect the look in anyway) that gives the plastic surgeon the ability to inflate the implant while the patient is conscience, which means you can get the size that you are looking for. The other great thing about the valve is if at some point you want bigger or smaller breasts you can have them adjusted in a matter of minutes.
There are very few risks evolved when dealing with saline breast implants, they are less likely to rupture and leak. Some studies have shown that bacteria can grow inside the implant and if it leaks or breaks it can cause infection and possible repertory issues. On the up side a break in a saline implant is simple to detect and can be addressed quickly.
Silicone Breast Implants:
The shell (outer layer) of silicone breast implants are made of a rubberized silicone. The implants are made and pre filled to a specific desired size. The implants come in a variety of textures, smoothness, outer shell (harder, softer, thickness etc.) and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Silicone implants unlike their saline counterparts are non adjustable.
Although silicone breast surgery implants have once again been reapproved in by the FDA in America, there is still overwhelming risks evolved when electing to have breast augmentation with silicone implants.
As if the potential risks werent bad enough, after you have the implants, you must go for an MRI every year to see if there is a leak or rupture in the implants. With saline implants a leak is detect right away (as the breast deflates and the person can feel it), with silicone if it leaks or ruptures the silicone actually takes the shape around the breast tissue making it near to impossible to notice a change.
When a silicone implants ruptures there may be no physical signs as the silicon leaks into the surrounding breast tissue.
High level of platinum in silicon implants lead to short term memory loss and may lead to the loss of motor skills and has been linked to several neurological disorders.
Once a woman has had silicone breast surgery implants breast feeding isnt a good idea and worst, in several hundred cases the same toxins found in breast implants and the women have been found in the children of those women, even if they had them previously removed before pregnancy.Despite the fact that silicone implants have a more natural look, feel, and have a more cohesive gel breast implants, the rate of rupture is higher as is the rate of capsular contraction (a painful condition where a kind of scar tissue forms around the implant and hardens).
For more information on breast implants and breast surgery see the breast foundation.