Breast Implant Types

The Breast Cancer Site

Click here to visit the breast cancer site to donate money to fund mammograms. Donations cost nothing and are provided through the site sponsors!

While all breast implants generally accomplish the same goal, they are very different in terms of constitution and properties. With the recent decision of the FDA to allow some silicone implants to be used in enhancement surgery, there are even more types to choose from.

Saline

Saline is the same substance that you keep your contact lenses in at night and is simply a salt water mixture with a few additional chemicals. It is a completely harmless substance to the body and does not pose a significant threat if ruptured. In implant form, saline is contained within a single-layer of thin, silicone elastomer. The bags are filled at the time of surgery to be custom-fit to your body. Some companies manufacture pre-filled implants, but in the United States they are unavailable as the FDA has yet to approve them for use.

Silicone

Years ago, some claimed that silicone breast implants caused connective tissue disorders, and while some manufacturers settled class-action lawsuits for large amounts of money, the FDA has recently approved silicone breast implants for limited use. One factor that might have contributed to this is the improved consistency of the silicone used in the implants. In the 1970’s and 80’s the gel used was very stiff and tight and resulted in a fair number of ruptures. Today, the silicone used is much more fluid, and as a side benefit more natural feeling and analogous to human flesh. Silicone breast implants have three levels in the outer shell.

Hydrogel Implants

Though not yet approved in the United States, Hydrogel Implants were developed in France and made available in Europe in the 1990’s after many feared that silicone was too dangerous to use. It preserves a gel consistency through hydroxypropyl cellulose hydrogel gel, which is a thick mixture of water, sugar and salt. It can be easily metabolized by the body should there be a rupture.

Read the following article and list () of cosmetic surgery procedures like breast enhancement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery#Cosmetic_surgery) for more information.