Silicone implants feel more like natural breast tissue.
While the initial excitement of a breast augmentation journey is typically visual, when the plans are made they start with what the result will look like. “Before and after” photos are studied for hours, the cup size is decided, and the type of profile is debated.
However, once the visual size of the breast implants is settled, a more profound, personal question crops up — one that you simply cannot answer by looking at the pictures. It’s the question about touch. A pair of breast implants not only needs to make you look natural in a bikini but they should also feel natural when you hug a friend, when you lie on your stomach, or during intimate moments with a partner.
This is where the common debate in plastic surgery arises: Saline vs. Silicone. Which type of breast implants texture is closer to that of real human skin? At Lin Europe Clinic, we are all about delivering the unadulterated, sensory truth to you. Both options come with their safety benefits, but if we are only talking about the ‘touch test’, there is a definite victor.
Saline: The water balloon analogy
Saline breast implants have been a surgical staple for many years. They are made of a silicone outer shell which is implanted empty and then filled with sterile salt water (saline) inside the breast pocket. Although this method requires only a small incision, the nature of water gives the implant a unique touch.
Water, being a low-viscosity liquid (which means it is thin and runny), does not move or resist pressure in the same way as human fat or dense breast tissue. Many patients refer to saline breast implants as being similar to the texture of a very firm water balloon. The water moves quickly when you press on the surface. The biggest drawback here is the case of women with thin or scant breast tissue. In such instances, you may be able to feel the implant’s outer shell or even sense the liquid inside.
Furthermore, since the water doesn’t stick the shell can fold on itself, which results in visible or palpable wrinkles under the skin known as “rippling”.
Silicone: The Nature’s Imitator
In contrast, silicone breast implants come with a gel-like cohesive silicone filling. The gel is ingeniously designed to resemble the density, weight, and “squishiness” of natural body fat.
There is no denying that silicone breast implants feel more realistic to the touch. The gel is like a natural flesh, reacting to your movements, it gently bounces when you walk and naturally settles when you lie down. It is gentle to your fingers but still keeps its form, hence does not give the impression of “sloshing” that may happen with saline.
The dense gel works like an inner cushion, thus supporting the shell from inside. This is why silicone is far less likely to create ripples or wrinkles. For ladies who are very skinny or lost their breast volume post-lactation, silicone is almost always the way to go in order to prevent looking or feeling “fake”.
Behind – The – Scenes Factor: Face to Face with the Implant
A big mistake a lot of people make is that they think the ‘feel’ is all about the implant. In fact, it’s also about the location where the implant is placed. One of the things we most often do at Lin Europe Clinic is putting breast implants in a “dual-plane” or submuscular position (beneath the pectoral muscle).
The tremendous difference the placement technique under the muscle makes is in the end tactile result, literally, the feeling. By lifting the muscle and placing the implant underneath it, not only does your body gain a layer of muscle, but we also get the original flesh over the top of the device. This extra layer of muscle works as a buffer for the flesh. So even when you opt for a firmer implant, the muscle will help the skin feel the transition softer, thus with the muscle almost invisible, the edges of the device are hardly felt at all.
The “Gummy Bear” Revolution
The invention of Form-Stable or “Gummy Bear” breast implants has further raised the technology level. The implants are essentially filled with a highly cohesive gel that is thicker and firmer than traditional liquid silicone. The name of the implant comes from that of the candy – if a Gummy Bear implant was cut in half, the gel wouldn’t come out but remain its shape perfectly.
They give you the best of two worlds. They provide the sensation of soft, dense, youthful breast tissue, yet are stiff enough to maintain the perky, lifted shape without sagging over time. They give the most natural contour and touch and have become the gold standard for any of our patients who want the result to be able to defy gravity without looking fake.
Why Motiva is our Choice at Lin Europe Clinic, Turkey?
Our international patients at Lin Europe Clinic in Istanbul choose silicone breast implants as their first option in the huge majority of cases. Not only that, but they actually opt for the next-generation brand like Motiva. These Motiva implants come with “Ergonomix” technology which means the gel is designed to follow gravity. When you are upright the gel moves down to the bottom thus creating a natural teardrop shape. When you are lying down it just spreads, exactly like a natural breast.
Nothing could be better suited to those who prioritize a tiny incision of the patients who are mostly worried about the peace of mind that comes with a deflation warning. But for a woman who not only gives importance to the natural feel but also wants the silhouette to be seamless, the queen of silicone is undoubtedly the last word.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implants
Since silicone breast implants are packed with a cohesive gel that replicates the density and feel of natural fatty tissue far superior to water in saline breast implants, which may feel like a water balloon.
Today, cohesive gel breast implants (frequently referred to as Gummy Bear implants) contain gel that stays together and does not flow into the body even if the shell of the breast implants ruptures.
Though breast implants are technically not lifetime devices, nowadays both silicone and saline breast implants are highly sturdy, and manufacturers intend for them to be used without any issues for 10-20 years or even longer.
Yes, normally women are able to breastfeed their babies even after getting breast implants, and this is especially the case when the implants are put underneath the chest muscle (submuscular), as this can prevent cutting or damaging of the milk ducts and nerves.
“Gummy Bear” form-stable implants actually have a bit more firmness as compared to the traditional silicone implants filled with liquid, however, they still keep the very natural touch—sort of like breast tissue in its youth and firmness rather than soft fat.
Maxwell, G. P., & Gabriel, A. (2012). The evolution of breast implants. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Spear, S. L., & Murphy, D. K. (2009). Natrelle round silicone breast implants: Core study results at 10 years. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Stevens, W. G., et al. (2013). Five-year follow-up data from the U.S. clinical trial for Sientra’s round and shaped implants. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
