Results of a new study show that women who received silicone breast implants after undergoing a mastectomy are generally happier with their results than those who received saline implants, The New York Times reports.

The research was recently published in the journal Cancer and is among the first studies dealing with patient preferences when it comes to reconstructive surgery. Scientists asked 472 patients about their reconstructive experience and found that the 176 women who had silicone implants were generally more pleased with the look and feel.

The women with silicone implants told the researchers that their implants felt more natural to the touch and preferred the look both naked and in clothes.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted a 14-year ban on silicone gel implants after concerns about safety were disproved in 2006. Insurance reimbursement is the same for saline or silicone implants and there is no financial benefit for the surgeon either way.

Individuals who are considering breast reconstruction should be sure their doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon.