Breast Implants

Breast augmentation is a very personal decision. What we think of ourselves is impacted to an extent by the way we look. You may be surprised to know that according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2004 there were over 334,000 women that had breast enlargements. The better informed that you are about the procedures like Breast Augmentation, Breast Lifts and Breast Reductions the better equipped you will be to make an intelligent decision.

V. Breast implants:

(a) Round breast implants (Mentor, McGhan).

(b) Anatomic breast implants.

(c) Expandable / post operatively adjustable breast implants.

(d) Silicone breast implants.

• History of breast implants.

(e) Soy breast implants.

Types of breast implants.

Breast implants come in many shapes and sizes, with differing inner and outer materials. Together, you and your doctor will select the options that are best suited for you and most likely to achieve the results you desire. In this section we will discuss some of the most important differences between various types of breast implants.

All breast implants have an outer pliable envelope enclosing either a liquid (saline) or soft-solid (gel) Substance. The implant shapes are generally round, oval or contoured. The surface of the implants has traditionally been smooth to the touch, but now there is another option, a textured Surface.

To achieve fullness and create the most natural breast-like feeling possible, the implants are filled with either:

• Saline (salt water) or
• Silicone gel, a soft-solid (gel) substance.

Saline is much like the fluid that makes up 70% of the human body. If the implant should leak and the saline is released, it can be safely absorbed by your body (see Potential Risks and Complications). Silicone gel-filled implants are available only to select patients having reversionary surgery of an existing gel-filled implant or for women having breast reconstruction after cancer surgery. Federal law requires patients using gel-filled implants to participate in a mandated Mentor Adjunct Study.