Mask A Million Challenge! 
This Pro/Con List Helped Her Decide Between Saline And Silicone Implants
Many of us know that a good pro/con list can help guide a decision in the right direction. Each person may have a different list for the same topic as we each put a different value on it. While I was deciding which implants to go with for my reconstruction, I made my own pro/con list. It’s not something I do on a regular basis, but it was something I felt I needed to do to help formulate my decision. I’ve decided to share a portion of my list with you in hopes that it may help form your own decisions, should you need it.
Saline
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More natural filling of salt water | Still a foreign object with an outer shell made with silicone |
| If it ruptures, the body absorbs the saline | Heavier than silicone |
| Obvious sign of rupture: the implant goes flat, which makes the breast deflate | Wrinkles more than silicone |
| Friends that went with saline are happy | Friends say it does not feel as natural |
| No MRI needed | |
| Helps with getting over body image issues |
Silicone
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Feels more natural | Foreign object implanted in my body |
| Doesn’t seem as heavy | MRI’s needed to detect rupture |
| I’ve been told they wrinkle less than saline | If ruptured, no physical sign |
| Friends that went with silicone are happy | Can still wrinkle |
| Friends that have had both are happier with silicone | |
| Helps with getting over body image issues |
While not everyone’s decision regarding which implants to get—or even whether or not to get implants at all—will be the same for a variety of reasons, I hope this list will help you get the facts you need to make the decision that is best for you.
Angela Banker is a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a sister; she is also a young survivor, a caregiver, a supporter, and a fighter. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 33, and found herself empowered to share her story to raise awareness about breast cancer. Angela participates in Relay For Life, started the Sisters Beating Breast Cancer page to inspire others, and continues to "fight like a girl" with the hope that her daughter will never have to hear the dreaded words, "You have cancer."
