Plastic surgery
Breast implant types explained: silicone, saline, round & teardrop
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mehmet Yılmaz
Quick answer
Breast implants are grouped mainly by filling and shape. By filling: silicone gel, which feels closest to natural tissue, or saline, filled with sterile salt water; by shape: round, for more upper fullness, or teardrop, shaped like a natural slope. They also differ in surface (smooth or textured) and profile. The right combination is chosen with your surgeon.
- Filling: silicone gel (natural feel) vs saline (salt water, obvious if it leaks).
- Shape: round (fuller top) vs teardrop / anatomical (natural slope).
- Surface: smooth (most common now) vs textured (used less, safety debated).
- No type is universally "best" — it depends on your anatomy, goals and a shared decision with a surgeon.
In this guide
Choosing a breast implant isn't one decision. It's several. Filling, shape, surface, profile and size are each chosen separately and then combined into a single device that suits your body. Understanding the main breast implant types helps you have a clearer, calmer conversation with your surgeon, rather than arriving with a cup size and hoping for the best. This guide explains each choice honestly, without hype.
It's general information to help you prepare, not medical advice. It sits alongside our full breast augmentation guide and the wider plastic surgery hub.
Silicone vs saline: what's inside the implant
The biggest difference between implants is what they're filled with. This affects how the breast feels, how a rare leak behaves, and the incision your surgeon needs.
Silicone-gel implants
Modern silicone implants use a cohesive gel, a soft but stable filler that holds its shape and feels closer to natural breast tissue, and because the gel is thicker than older generations, even the firmer "form-stable" versions (sometimes nicknamed "gummy bear" implants) resist folding and rippling. Silicone is the most popular choice worldwide for its natural feel, particularly for people with less of their own tissue to cover the implant, though the trade-off is that a silent rupture isn't always obvious, so imaging follow-up is recommended over time.
Saline implants
Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water after they're inserted empty, which lets the surgeon use a slightly smaller incision and fine-tune volume during surgery. If a saline implant leaks, the body simply absorbs the harmless salt water and the deflation is visibly obvious, a reassurance for some patients, though the downside is that they tend to feel firmer and can ripple or wrinkle more, especially in slimmer patients. Availability varies by market and surgeon preference.
Most patients today choose cohesive silicone gel for its natural feel. But "most popular" isn't the same as "right for you." Feel is subjective; ask to handle both.
Round vs teardrop: the shape of the implant
Shape changes the silhouette of the result more than any other single choice.
Round implants
Round implants are symmetrical, so no matter how they settle they present the same profile. They give more upper-pole fullness, the rounded, "done" cleavage many people picture, and because they're symmetrical they can't rotate out of position. They're the most commonly used shape and are versatile across a wide range of bodies.
Teardrop (anatomical) implants
Teardrop, or anatomical, implants carry more of their volume in the lower half, mimicking the gentle slope of a natural breast, and they can produce a more discreet, sloped look, which some patients prefer, and can be useful in reconstruction or in bodies with little natural tissue. The trade-offs: they must stay correctly oriented (rotation can distort the shape), they're usually textured to help them stay put, and they often cost more, and interestingly, in many blinded studies observers struggle to tell round and teardrop results apart once healed. That's why surgeon judgement matters more than the label.
A note on "natural." Both fillings and both shapes can look natural or obvious depending on the volume chosen, your tissue and the placement. Shape is only one ingredient. A very large round implant can look natural on the right frame; a teardrop can look overdone if oversized. There's no shortcut around individual assessment.
Smooth vs textured: the implant surface
Implant shells are made either smooth or textured. Texturing was introduced to help implants grip surrounding tissue, reduce movement and lower rates of capsular contracture (tight scar tissue around the implant), and it's what lets teardrop implants stay oriented.
However, some macro-textured designs have been associated with a rare cancer of the immune system called BIA-ALCL (breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma), and several textured products have been withdrawn from the market. As a result, many surgeons have moved back toward smooth implants. This is exactly the kind of evolving safety issue to raise directly with a board-certified surgeon, using only current, regulated devices, and we cover it further in our implant safety and longevity guide.
Profile, projection & placement
Beyond filling, shape and surface, two more variables shape the result:
- Profile (projection): for a given volume, implants come in low, moderate and high profiles. A higher profile projects further forward from a narrower base; a lower profile spreads wider and flatter. Your chest width helps decide which profile actually fits your frame.
- Placement: implants can sit above the chest muscle (subglandular), partially under it (submuscular / dual-plane), or in between. Placement affects feel, how visible edges or ripples are, and recovery. It's chosen alongside the implant, not separately.
Volume itself is a whole topic. See our dedicated implant sizes guide for how cc's translate to a look on your body.
Side-by-side comparison
| Silicone gel | Saline | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Closer to natural tissue | Firmer, can ripple more |
| If it leaks | May be silent; imaging advised | Obvious deflation, salt water absorbed |
| Incision | Slightly larger (pre-filled) | Can be smaller (filled inside) |
| Popularity | Most common today | Less common, varies by market |
| Round | Teardrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Upper-pole fullness | More | Softer, sloped |
| Rotation risk | None (symmetrical) | Must stay oriented |
| Typical surface | Often smooth | Usually textured |
| Common use | Most augmentations | Reconstruction, discreet look |
How the right implant is chosen
This is the part that matters most. It's a shared decision, not a menu you order from. A responsible surgeon works from measurements first, then your goals:
- Measurements. Chest width, skin quality, existing tissue and nipple position set the sensible range of shapes, profiles and volumes that actually fit your body.
- Your goals. The look you want, your lifestyle and activity level, whether you want to hide or show that you've had surgery.
- Simulation. Sizers worn in a bra, and sometimes 3D imaging, help you picture a result before committing.
- Honest counsel. A good surgeon will sometimes recommend a smaller implant, a different type, or occasionally advise against surgery. The safest, most natural result matters more than the biggest one.
At SaluVista, plastic and aesthetic surgery is led by board-certified specialists including Op. Dr. Caner K., whose aesthetic eye spans facial and body work. You speak with your surgeon before you travel, screening and booking happen in the app, and a qualified human makes the final decision, never a salesperson, never a fixed package pushed on you.
Not sure which implant type suits you?
Share a few details and your goals, and a board-certified plastic surgeon gives you an honest, personalised recommendation, including which type, size and placement fit your body, or if a smaller change is wiser.
Get a free assessment →Cost in Turkey
At SaluVista, breast augmentation starts from £3,360 for augmentation with an uplift, and standard breast augmentation from £2,680 (≈ €3,160), with the implant itself an extra cost, because the filling, shape, surface, profile and size are chosen specifically for you. Two people can have very different implants at very different device prices, which is exactly why we don't quote a single flat figure. Every price here is a guide only; your final number arrives as a transparent, itemised quote after your individual assessment. See the full picture in our breast augmentation guide, and never choose an implant type on price alone: feel, safety and fit come first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of breast implant?
Breast implants are grouped mainly by their filling and their shape. By filling there are silicone-gel implants, which feel closer to natural breast tissue, and saline implants, filled with sterile salt water. By shape there are round implants, which give more upper-pole fullness, and teardrop (anatomical) implants, which are shaped to mimic a natural slope. Implants also differ in surface, either smooth or textured, and in projection or profile.
Are silicone or saline breast implants better?
Neither is universally better. Most patients today choose cohesive silicone gel because it feels more like natural tissue and ripples less. Saline implants are filled after insertion so can use a smaller incision, and a leak is obvious because the body absorbs the harmless salt water, but they tend to feel firmer and ripple more. The right choice depends on your tissue, goals and preferences, decided with your surgeon.
What is the difference between round and teardrop implants?
Round implants are symmetrical, so they give fuller upper-pole cleavage and cannot rotate out of position. Teardrop, or anatomical, implants are shaped with more volume at the bottom to echo a natural breast slope and can look more discreet, but they must stay correctly oriented and are usually textured. Round implants are the more common choice; the best shape depends on your anatomy and the look you want.
Are textured breast implants safe?
Textured implants were designed to grip tissue and reduce movement and capsular contracture, but some macro-textured designs have been linked to a rare cancer of the immune system called BIA-ALCL, and several have been withdrawn. Many surgeons now favour smooth implants for that reason. Implant choice and its risks should always be discussed with a board-certified plastic surgeon using current, regulated devices.
How long do implants last?
Implants aren't lifetime devices. Many stay problem-free for well over a decade, but they can need revision or replacement over time. Plan for possible future maintenance — our safety and longevity guide covers this honestly.
How do I find out which type suits me?
Start with an assessment of your measurements and goals. Get the SaluVista app or message us for a free, honest review of the implant type, size and placement that fit your body.
How is the right breast implant chosen for me?
Your surgeon measures your chest width, skin quality and existing tissue, then discusses your goals, lifestyle and the look you want. From that they recommend a filling, shape, profile and volume, and often use sizers or simulation so you can picture the result. It is a shared decision, and a good surgeon may advise a smaller change or a different type than you first imagined.
How much does breast augmentation with implants cost in Turkey?
At SaluVista breast augmentation starts from £2,680 (approximately €3,160), with the implant itself an extra cost because the type, brand, shape and size are selected for you. This is a guide only; your final figure comes as a transparent, itemised quote after an individual assessment with your surgeon.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a consultation with a qualified doctor. Implant availability, suitability and risks vary by individual and by regulated device. Never expect a guaranteed aesthetic outcome, and always discuss your options and risks with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Sources & further reading
- NHS — Cosmetic procedures (overview of breast enlargement, implants and risks).
- BAAPS — British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (patient information on breast augmentation and implants).
