New Saline Breast Implants-- Will they Look as Good as Silicone Gel?

A clinical trial for a new type of saline breast implant is currently being conducted by select plastic surgeons across the country. This new implant was designed to offer the safety of saline with the more natural-looking results of silicone gel. Though Silicone gel implants have been FDA approved since 2006, and are commonly seen as the offering a better aesthetic result, a recent study shows that the majority of breast augmentations are still being performed using saline implants instead. This implies that concerns over the safety of silicone gel implants still exist in the minds of many, impacting implant choice for many surgeons and patients.

This new implant, however, called the IDEAL IMPLANT®, attempts to offer the best of both worlds. It is filled entirely with saline-- a substance natural to the human body, yet is designed to prevent the "sloshing" issues which often occur with saline implants by using several silicone shells nested within one another. The design is also intended to conform better to the chest wall, reducing the wrinkling issues also common with traditional saline implants.

These new implants are being tested in 500 women by plastic surgeons in Texas, Florida and California.

For now, traditional saline and silicone gel breast implants are still the options to choose from. If you are considering breast augmentation, Columbus, OH plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffery Donaldson offers great information on his website. Or, consult plasticsurgery.org to locate a board certified plastic surgeon near you.