How to Choose Between Saline vs. Silicone | Transgender Surgery?
If you are planning on having transgender breast surgery, choosing which kind of implant to go with can be a challenge. Heck, just choosing a size can be challenging enough.
Currently, two types of implants are available for breast augmentation in the US. Saline and silicone implants.
But which implant out of two to choose from?
Remember that not all trans women or trans-feminine desire breast implants! Transition, after all, is an individualized process!
Before considering which implant to go with, let’s keep in mind that there are anatomical differences in AMAB bodies. Some of the things to keep in mind are:
Generally broader chest and shoulders.
Difference in areola size and dimension.
Larger pec muscles.
Stronger pectoral facia.
I have also written a detailed article outlining differences in 5 Reasons Why Transgender Breast Surgery Differs From Cisgender.
As the article demonstrates, working with a surgeon specializing in transgender surgery is important! Trust me!
Having a surgeon who has operated on million of cis-gendered bodies is drastically different than operating on a transgender body. And don’t miss out on one of my top 5 video: 4 Essential Tips for Breast Augmentation.
Now let’s look at each implant option in detail.
SALINE IMPLANTS
Saline breast implants consist of a silicone shell filled with sterile saline water.
They are typically inserted empty and then filled during the surgery.
As a result, the initial incision is usually smaller than it would be for silicone implants.
There is also more versatility when it comes to incision placement.
For example, saline implants may be inserted through the incision made along the border of the areola.
Saline implants usually take on more of a round shape than the tear-drop shape of some silicone implants.
While complaints against saline implants are low, one common complaint has been that they don’t feel as natural as silicone implants.
SILICONE IMPLANTS
Silicone breast implants consist of silicone shells filled with silicone gel.
One of the biggest advantages of silicone implants is that they can encompass a variety of breast implant types - including Gummy Bear implants!
Therefore, silicone implants have a key advantage regarding overall aesthetic.
In addition, silicone implants have a reputation for providing a more natural feel than saline implants.
Because silicone implants come pre-filled with a silicone gel, the incision size is larger than the one made for saline implants.
HOW TO CHOOSE?
Deciding on which implant to go with is a two-way conversation between you and your doctor.
Generally speaking, silicone implants are softer and feel more natural.
Making them an ideal choice for transfeminine patients who don’t have a lot of breast tissue covering the implants.
A common concern for many is fear of implants rupturing.
If the saline implant ruptures, a person should be able to tell, usually within a few hours or days. The implant will deflate, and your body will naturally absorb the saline solution.
If the silicone implant ruptures, it will be harder to detect. Because silicone is Jell-O-like, the leakage is likely minimal and can take several weeks or even months to notice. For this reason, the FDA recommends routine MRI to be performed.
However, the statistics on failure rate are minimal. Saline implants have a failure rate of 2% per year. Silicone implants have a lower failure rate of 1/2% per year (Gender Confirmation Center by Dr. Scott Mosser).
I hope this helps you better make the right decision. If you need help finding a skilled transgender doctor, please visit my gender resource page in the states I am licensed in to find a gender-affirming surgeon in California, Texas, New York, or Florida.
You may also find the following helpful:
WATCH EXPERT VIDEOS ON GENDER DYSPHORIA
REFERENCES & SOURCES
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation/implants
https://www.genderconfirmation.com/saline-or-silicone/
