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A user poll at www.implantinfo.com found that 58 percent of women who reported they planned on having breast augmentation surgery in the future would choose to have silicone breast implants. Of the poll’s 481 participants, 24 percent said they would choose saline breast implants. Seventeen percent were undecided, and only six women said they did not care if they received silicone or saline breast implants.

While the poll showed that more women planned to choose silicone implants, 2009 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) showed that women who actually had the surgery in the United States last year were evenly divided on the type of implant, with 50 percent using saline and 50 percent silicone.

However, since the FDA approved silicone breast implants in November 2006, ASPS data has shown that the use of silicone implants has grown each year, gaining on saline:

• In 2007, 65% of total breast implants were saline; 35% were silicone.
• In 2008, 53% of total breast implants were saline; 47% were silicone.
• In 2009, 50% of total breast implants were saline; 50% were silicone.

Implant Differences

Saline breast implants:

• Are filled with saline, usually at the time of surgery, which allows for a smaller incision.
• Are available to women 18 and older for breast augmentation.
• Can be made bigger or smaller without further surgery: the implants have small valves in which a surgeon can insert a needle and either add or remove the liquid to change their size.
• It is easier to detect ruptures in saline implants, because they deflate so the woman notices it almost immediately.

Silicone breast implants:

• Are pre-filled with silicone gel.
• Look and feel more natural, compared to saline implants.
• Are available to women 22 and older for breast augmentation.
• Cannot be changed in size; if a different size is desired at a later point, a surgery must be performed to change the implant.

Both types of breast implants are approved by the FDA, so they have been thoroughly researched and tested and reviewed by an independent panel of physicians for safety.