Types Of Breast Implant Materials

Operations for breast implants have been performed since the late 1800’s. But the materials used in those early operations contrasted sharply to the texture and feel of saline and silicone implants used today. Early packing used in implants to pump up the shape of a woman’s breast included: ivory, ox cartilage, polyethylene chips, glass balls, ground rubber, and even paraffin. Thankfully, there have been cutting edge advances in breast augmentation compounds and techniques.

It was in 1962 that silicone gel implants were first made known to the world. These types of implants were a silicone shell filled with silicone gel. Thirty years after their introduction, the premier silicone gel implant seller, Dow Corning, revealed a new policy statement. No longer would they make five different grades of silicone gel for their implants. This was due to the many thousands of women who complained of pain and illness from the implants leaking silicone into their bodies. Filing for bankruptcy in 1995, Dow Corning cited more than 19,000 lawsuits filed by women whose health difficulties were caused by the silicone gel.

The two principal makers of silicone gel implants today are Mentor Corporation and Allergan. The FDA has approved both for breast reconstruction and augmentation. Although approved by the FDA, silicone gel implants are restricted to use in limited situations.

Another implant is made with saline. In 1964, it rolled off the production line in France. Instead of filling the implant with silicone gel, it is filled with a sterile saline. The saltwater mixture resembles fluids found in the human body.

If a saline implant leaks, saline would seep into the body. Different than silicone gel, if a saline implant rips open, the body soaks up the saline and ultimately gets rid of it by urination. Another good point is that, it is much easier to pull out a saline implant than a silicone gel, if it tears open.

To minimize the size of the incision to insert them, saline implants were introduced. Because the implant is first placed into the body and then filled with saline, only small incisions are necessary. Saline implants are associated with problems like rippling and wrinkling of the breast. Today, saline implants are allowed for unrestricted use.

The round implant was the first shape available. Still today, the most commonly shaped implant is round. Post surgery, an implant may shift and turn within the breast. Unlike other implant shapes, round implants that rotate will not show noticeable change in the way your breasts look. The downside to round implants is that they create a greater fullness on the top of the breast than found in a real breast. Another advantage of round implants is that they don’t cost as much as the other implant shapes.

Anatomical is the second most popular shape of implant. It is also called the teardrop shape. These implants have more fullness at the bottom than at the top. Copying naturally sloping breasts is the aim of this shape. The breast shape will be noticeably affected if an anatomically shaped implant turns around. Minor surgery may be required, in cases such as this, to correct the turned implant.

If you are considering implants purely for cosmetic reasons, you may be restricted to saline implants. Your specific situation is what will dictate your available choices. Between the two implants, silicone gel is preferred more often but the FDA confined their use to only very limited situations. The FDA is currently conducting research, and one day soon silicone gel implants will be approved for all uses. In the interim, you need to meet with a surgeon to decide if your situation makes you eligible for silicone gel implants.

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