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.