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Breast implant construction materials and fills
There has previously been some concern about the safety of what breast implants are made of and more importantly what breast implants are filled with. Breast implants that are used for breast enhancement surgery that have been approved by the FDA are all essentially made by two manufacturers. Breast implants have an outer bag or shell, and an inner fill substance. The outer shell of a breast implant is made from silicone. This solid form of silicone has no controversy and has been universally accepted. The fill substance is either saline (salt water) or silicone gel. If the breast implants are filled with saline, then they typically come empty and are filled through a fill valve after they have been put in the woman at the time of augmentation surgery. Silicone gel breast implants are all prefilled and do not have a fill valve. Silicone gel breast implants are put in already filled and it is this fill substance that has had some concern.
The majority of breast implant devices that have been put in over the past decade in the US are the saline filled devices. Previously, silicone gel breast implants had only been allowed to be put in under restriction because of concerns for their safety. Silicone gel breast implants are now considered safe by the FDA and they have been released to used for women electing to have primary breast augmentation. The only significant restriction for the use of silicone gel is that the woman must be 22 years of age.
The shell of a breast implant can either be smooth or have a textured shell. The textured shell theoretically does not allow the breast implant to move and inhibits tightening of the scar tissue layer. There are also some breast implants that have two compartments. The two compartment concept was to allow the different compartments to be filled with different substances. Some of the breast implants have the outer compartment filled with silicone gel and the inner compartment filled with saline. While other breast implants are filled in the reverse. In general terms, these two compartment breast implants are very seldom used today.
All breast implants come in different sizes and shapes. It is not a ‘one size fits all’ concept. Selecting the proper breast implant for a woman is based upon the woman’s anatomy and her desires. All saline breast implants have a recommended fill volume range.
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Disclaimer
This web site has been designed and created to assist in providing information about breast implants, and breast enhancement surgeries including breast augmentation. It is not meant to replace an informed consent document, or a visit with your plastic surgeon. This web site is for informational purposes only and not intended to provide medical advice.
