| There are two basic
types of implants: saline filled and silicone gel-filled breast
implants. Both types have the same basic type of outer envelope made
of a solid, rubber-like form of silicone called an elastomer.
Saline filled implants – These
implants are made of an elastomer silicone envelope, which is
surgically implanted under your tissues, and then filled with
sterile saline, a salt-water solution, through a valve.
Silicone gel-filled implants –
These implants are made of an elastomer envelope pre-filled (prior
to surgery) with a clear, sticky, thick jellylike form of silicone
that approximates the consistency of breast tissue. Silicone gel
implants come in many sizes. The size used depends on the amount of
augmentation desired or the size the reconstructed breast is to be.
Presently, saline filled implants
are available to all patients from only the Mentor Corporation and
McGhan Medical. Silicone gel-filled breast implants are available to
women through two FDA-approved studies, an adjunct study and an
investigational device exemptions (IDE) study.
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/biavail.html |
