Breast augmentation is a procedure that alters the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. It has been around since the late 1800s and is the number one cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States. Women choose breast augmentation surgery for many reasons. For many women with relatively small breasts, the procedure enables them to feel more attractive and feel better about the way they look and the way their clothing fits. (Standard sizing assumes a B-cup breast size.) Other women may seek breast augmentation as a corrective measure.

Childbirth significantly alters the size and shape of women’s breasts. During pregnancy, the breast tissue expands and increases about one cup size. After childbirth, the breast tissue expands even more to accommodate milk production for breast-feeding. When a woman gains and/or loses weight, the breast tissue again expands and contracts. All of this expansion and contraction of breast tissue causes the breasts to droop or sag. Even if the size of the breasts is adequate, the woman may not feel they are attractive due to the support level of the connective tissue and muscle surrounding the breasts. Breast augmentation changes the appearance of the breasts back to pre-pregnancy and childbirth look and form.

As women age, gravity and muscle loss take their toll on the body, which is why breasts begin to droop, sag, and lose their perky appearance with aging. Breast augmentation helps to correct this condition and allows women to regain the youthful appearance of their breasts. Women who experience breast cancer and undergo mastectomies are also breast augmentation candidates. In their case, breast augmentation is totally a reconstructive cosmetic surgery.

The two main types of breast implants used for augmentation are saline and silicone implants. Saline filled breast implants have a silicone outer shell and are filled with a sterile saline liquid. Silicone filled breast implants have a silicone outer shell and are filled with a silicone gel.

Benefits of Saline Breast Implant

Saline breast implants are filled with salt water, another name for saline.They have been used in breast augmentation surgeries since the 1960s. Cosmetic surgeons are able to implant saline-filled implants with a much smaller incision than silicone-filled implants for two reasons.  First, the implants are virtually empty when surgically inserted into the breast, which allows the cosmetic surgeon to fill them according to the physical appearance of the breast shape and size. They are also more flexible. Therefore, the required incision is not nearly as large as that needed for silicone implants. This results in much less scarring of the breast tissue after a saline breast implant procedure.

 With the use of saline implants, cosmetic surgeons are able to produce a more personalized, individual result for the patient since the implant is not filled until already in place inside the breast tissue. Women with adequate breast tissue are the best candidates for saline-filled implants. The saline feels more natural and lifelike than silicone because it is after all just salt water. Therefore, if you are looking for a more personalized, individual appearance for your breast augmentation procedure, saline implants may be the right choice for you.