Breast Implants: Saline or Silicone?

The United States has seen significant shifts in the breast implant market over the past five decades. From the moratorium on silicone gel breast implants in 1992 to their approval in 2006, there have been many developments in their manufacturing and usage. Meanwhile, saline breast implants have remained somewhat unchanged, still offering a few distinct advantages but none of the technological innovation of the silicone gel models. In this article, the authors review the current state of silicone gel and saline implants, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. Much of the current data on complications of gel and saline implants are examined, as well as some practical implications associated with the use of each implant type.