1. What is an implant made of?

Breast implants are made of an outer silicone shell and filled with either saline or silicone gel.


2. Is having silicone in the body safe?

Silicone has been found to be the safest material that can be used to be implanted in the body. Almost all medical devices that are implanted in the body are coated with silicone. Silicone gel implants have been extensively studied for more than 50 years and the FDA has declared them safe to be used for breast augmentation surgeries.


3. What are the pros and cons of saline fill vs silicone gel fill?

Silicone gel implants are found to have a more natural feel when the breasts are touched.They also will not deflate if they have ruptured.Saline implants are generally felt to be firmer than silicone gel and when they leak the breast will go flat. Silicone gel implants are a little more expensive than saline but they have become more popular over the last few years. Because it is difficult to detect if a silicone gel implants has leaked, the FDA recommends that an MRI be performed every two to three years to see if a rupture of the shell has occurred.


4. Can salt-water filled implants harden like the silicone-filled ones?

Salt water, or saline, filled implants are more likely to feel hard than silicone gel filled implants.


5. How long do implants last?

Implants will generally last a lifetime. The implant manufacturers give a life time warranty on any implants that are used in this country.The actual risk of an implant rupturing is less than 1% per year. That means that after 50 years you have a 50/50 chance of an implant being ruptured. Saline implants have a slightly greater risk of leaking than silicone gel filled implants.