Both silicone and saline breast implants are FDA approved medical devices available for use in cosmetic breast enhancement surgery as well as for revision and reconstruction procedures. Depending on personal preference and results desired, silicone and saline implants are both available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures . While the outer shell of both types of implants is composed of a solid silicone substance, saline implants are filled with a salt-water solution and silicone implants are filled with a silicone gel.

Some surgeons and women prefer silicone breast implants over saline-filled implants because they tend to look and feel more like a woman's natural breast. However, when a silicone breast implant ruptures, the leak is often difficult to detect. The silicone gel may seep into the surrounding breast tissue, resulting in little or no visible difference. For this reason, some women and doctors prefer saline implants.

When a saline breast implant ruptures, the leak is evident almost immediately because the implant deflates as salt-water is absorbed by the body. Another advantage of saline breast implants is their ability to be altered in size after surgery. A plastic surgeon can add or remove saline through a small valve in the implant if the patient decides she wants to increase or decrease her breast size.