Silicone Breast Implants in Seattle

What Are the Benefits of Silicone Implants?

Many patients consider silicone implants because they tend to feel softer than saline implants. This can be particularly important when there is less natural breast tissue covering the device.

Silicone implant benefits may include:

• A soft consistency that can resemble breast tissue
• Less visible or palpable rippling in some patients
• Smooth transitions along the breast contour
• A variety of base widths and projection options
• Cohesive gel that helps the implant retain its form
• Choices ranging from subtle to more noticeable fullness

Implant material alone does not determine how the breasts will look. Tissue thickness, skin elasticity, chest dimensions, and the selected implant profile also affect the result.

Patients interested in seeing how different implant choices work with different body proportions can review Remington Plastic Surgery’s breast augmentation before-and-after results.

How Do Breast Implant Profiles Affect Shape?

Breast implant profile describes how far an implant projects forward in relation to the width of its base. It is separate from implant volume.

A lower-profile implant usually distributes its volume across a broader base. A higher-profile implant can provide more forward projection while using a narrower base. As a result, two implants with similar volumes may create noticeably different contours.

Profile selection should correspond with the natural width of the breast and chest. Existing tissue, skin elasticity, and preferred upper-breast fullness also matter.

This is why Dr. Brad and Dr. Austin evaluate implant dimensions rather than relying on cup size alone. The goal is to find proportions that make sense for the patient’s frame and existing breast tissue.

Silicone vs. Saline Implants

Both silicone and saline implants have silicone outer shells, but they differ in what fills the device and how they behave.

Silicone implants come prefilled with cohesive gel. Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water after insertion. Because saline implants are placed before they are filled, they may allow a smaller incision in some cases.

The two materials can also feel different. Silicone generally has a softer consistency and may make rippling or implant edges less noticeable when tissue coverage is limited.

Rupture is another important distinction. A saline implant usually deflates if its shell fails, creating a noticeable loss of breast volume. Silicone implants may rupture without causing an obvious change in appearance or feel. These silent ruptures are one reason imaging is recommended as part of long-term monitoring.

Neither implant type is universally better. The choice between silicone vs. saline implants depends on anatomy, desired feel, tissue coverage, and comfort with future monitoring.

Motiva Silicone Breast Implants

For patients interested in newer cohesive gel implant designs, Motiva implants are another option available at Remington Plastic Surgery. Motiva SmoothSilk Round and SmoothSilk Round Ergonomix implants received FDA approval for breast augmentation in the United States in 2024.

The two designs differ primarily in how they maintain their contour. SmoothSilk Round provides a consistently rounder shape, while Round Ergonomix is designed to adapt its contour with changes in body position.

These differences can be relevant when comparing upper-breast fullness, projection, movement, and overall shape. As with any implant, Motiva is considered in relation to breast width, tissue coverage, and the patient’s preferred result rather than by brand alone.

Who May Be a Good Candidate for Silicone Implants?

Silicone implant breast augmentation may appeal to patients who prioritize a softer feel or want to reduce the visibility of implant edges and rippling.

Factors that may make silicone worth considering include:

• Being age 22 or older
• Having relatively thin breast tissue
• Preferring a softer implant feel
• Wanting several projection options to compare
• Being concerned about visible or palpable rippling
• Understanding the need for long-term implant monitoring

A physical examination is still necessary before an implant can be recommended.  

How Are Silicone Breast Implants Monitored?

A silicone implant can rupture without producing obvious changes or symptoms, so imaging is used to evaluate the integrity of the device over time.

For patients without symptoms, current recommendations call for ultrasound or MRI beginning five to six years after implant placement, followed by imaging every two to three years. MRI may also be recommended if symptoms develop or an ultrasound result is unclear.

Implant monitoring does not replace routine breast cancer screening. Patients should continue mammograms and other breast imaging recommended for their age and medical history.

Why Choose Remington Plastic Surgery for Silicone Breast Implants?

Implant selection at Remington Plastic Surgery starts with understanding how an implant will work with the patient’s existing anatomy. Dr. Brad Remington and Dr. Austin Remington consider breast width, tissue thickness, skin elasticity, asymmetry, projection, and desired fullness before narrowing the choices. Their recommendations follow four criteria: a procedure should be indicated, safe, natural, and properly performed.

Dr. Brad Remington is Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has practiced in Kirkland since 1992, with a specific interest in breast procedures. Dr. Austin Remington is Board-Eligible and completed six years of plastic and reconstructive surgery training at the University of Michigan after earning his medical degree from Stanford University. 

Rather than starting with a predetermined implant size or brand, both surgeons use the consultation to explain why particular dimensions and profiles may fit the patient’s body better than others. This gives patients a clear basis for comparing their options before making a decision.

Silicone Breast Implant FAQs