The ABC's of Saline and Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Below is your guideline to all of the information you could possibly need about types of breast implants including saline, silicone, cohesive, gummybear, round, anatomical, high profile, low profile and moderate profile.

Here are 5 basic questons to answer before you choose an implant:

1. What fill?

2. What size?

3. What shape?

4. What surface?

5. What Profile / Projection?

1. Breast Implant Fill - Saline or Silicone?

Women today have options in breast implant fill. The first implants were filled with silicone gel. As breast implants evolved, saline (salt water) became an accepted alternative fill to silicone. Silicone can look and feel more like a real breast. Whether filled with silicone or salt water, the shell of both types is made of a firmer, silicone elastomer.

In 1992, FDA Commissioner David Kessler decided that the safety of silicone breast implants had not been established. The FDA then removed silicone breast implants from the market. Since 1992, silicone gel-filled implants have been available only to breast reconstruction patients and patients undergoing breast revision surgery. In order to receive silicone implants, women must be enrolled in clinical trials. The current ban on silicone implants may soon be lifted.

Saline Implants Silicone Implants

2. Breast Implant Size