Saline Implants
Our Breast Augmentation Information Guide assists you in understanding saline and silicone breast implants. 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.
Silicone Gel
Natrelle® silicone gel-filled breast implants have experienced acceptance for more thean 25 years in over 60 countries. They were approved by the FDA for use in the US in November 2006. A gel-filled breast implant has an elastic silicone rubber shell and is filled with cohesive silicone gel. The safety of Natrelle® silicone gel-filled breast implants meet one of the most rigorous standards of all medical devices.
Silicone gel-filled breast implants are FDA approved for augmentation in women 22 years of age and older.
The Safety of Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implant
Silicone gel-filled breast implants are among the most extensively studied FDA-approved medical devices in existence. In the United States alone, Allergan has examined the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants in more than 80,000 women.
Women in the United States considering breast implant surgery now have the option of saline-filled or silicone gel-filled breast implants. The FDA has approved both types of breast implants after determining that each are safe and effective options for women undergoing breast augmentation, reconstruction or revision surgery. Ultimately, it is up to each woman, along with her surgeon, to decide what breast implant option will provide the look and outcome desired from the surgery.
The Shell of the Implants
The outer covering or shell of all breast implants is made of a silicone elastomer that is designed to be as durable as possible.
Today’s silicone gel-filled breast implants have a thicker outer shell, a silicone patch and a silicone barrier material covering the entire surface. The silicone patch covers the opening where the silicone gel is inserted into the shell.
The thicker outer shell enables current silicone gel-filled breast implants to withstand more than 25 times the force of a normal mammogram without failure.
It is important to note that breast implants are not lifetime devices and breast implant surgery is likely not a onetime surgery. A woman may need additional unplanned surgeries on the breast(s) because of complications or unacceptable cosmetic outcomes. These additional surgeries can include implant removal with or without replacement, or they can include other surgical procedures.
The Difference between Saline and Silicone
Women should discuss with their surgeons the implant filler material that is best for them. There are differences in the cohesiveness (firmness of the implant filler) between silicone and saline filler material. The decision of which breast implant filler is best for each woman also depends on the woman’s body type and her personal goals for surgery.
Allergan: The Natrelle ™ Confidence Plus ® Warranty
ConfidencePlus® Premier Warranty
Get the following additional benefits for FREE when choosing Natrelle® silicone filled implants, or for an additional enrollment fee of $299 within 45 days of surgery with Natrelle® saline filled implants:
- 10 years of financial assistance
- Up to $3500 for silicone filled and $2400 for saline in out-of-pocket expenses for surgical fees, operating room and anesthesia expenses not covered by insurance
- At the surgeons request, Allergan will also provide a replacement for the contralateral breast implant
- Lifetime product replacement
- Non-cancellable terms