1. What is an implant made of?

Breast implants are medical devices with a solid silicone, rubber shell. The implant shell may be filled with either saline solution (sterile salt water) or elastic silicone gel. Both saline and silicone gel breast implants are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Approval means that an implant has been rigorously researched and tested, and reviewed by an independent panel of physicians for safety.


2. Is having silicone in the body safe?

Scientific studies demonstrate that silicone gel-filled breast implants are safe, but that doesn t necessarily make them right for everybody. Silicone gel-filled breast implants are not lifetime devices. It is likely at some point in a woman s lifetime that her implant(s) will need to be removed or replaced. To ensure that women achieve optimal results safely, patients should be aware that they should not have breast implant surgery if they:

Have existing malignant or pre-malignant cancer of the breast and have not been successfully treated

Have an active infection anywhere in the body

Are currently pregnant or nursing

(www.breastimplantanswers.com)


3. If silicone does not make people ill, why do the suits continue?

Two key differences between saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants are the material that fills the inside of the breast implant and the technique used to implant them during surgery.

Saline-filled breast implants are filled with saline, or a salt water solution that is compatible with the human body. During breast implant surgery, the empty breast implant shell is placed inside the woman s body and then filled with saline enough to achieve the desired result. On the other hand, silicone gel-filled breast implants already contain silicone gel before being implanted inside a woman s body and therefore their volume cannot be adjusted during surgery. The look of the implants is very similar but silicone implants do tend to have a more natural feel, particularly in women with very little of their own breast tissue.


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

Yes, research shows that both silicone and salt water filled implants can have the "hardening" process although some research has suggested that the chances are less with salt water implants.


6. How long do implants last?

You should be aware that breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery will likely be required to replace one or both implants. Regular examinations for breast health and to evaluate the condition of your implants are important whether you have chosen saline or silicone breast implants. However, if your breast implants do not give you problems, there is no set time at which "old" implants need to be replaced.