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Silicone Gel Implants

In November 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of silicone gel-filled implants. This gives women who are considering breast augmentation an alternative to saline-filled implants.

Each type of breast implant is filled with a different material. Saline-filled breast implants consist of a silicone shell that’s filled with saline at the time of implant surgery. Silicone gel implants also consist of a silicone outer shell, but they’re pre-filled with a silicone gel rather than saline.

The gel in a silicone gel implant is lighter and thicker than saline. According to Mentor Corporation, the gel acts as a unit, rather than a liquid, and holds together uniformly. Because of this, it is suggested that it doesn’t ripple or wrinkle as easily as saline. Therefore, it might cause less rippling under the skin on the sides or under the breast.

Facts At A Glance

  • Silicone gel implants are available for women 22 and older. Saline implants are available for women 18 and older.
  • The incision is approximately two inches.
  • The implants are more expensive – approximately twice the cost of saline.
  • The FDA suggests that silicone gel implants larger than 350ccs might cause additional postoperative problems, like bleeding, infection, etc.
  • If a patient has collagen-vascular and/or autoimmune disease symptoms, like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid symptoms, fatigue, joint swelling, etc., silicone implants may make the symptoms worse.
  • In general, there is a higher rate of capsular contraction rate (breasts becoming hard and requiring another surgery to make them soft.
  • There is an increased possibility of a change in nipple sensation.
  • To evaluate the implants for rupture (breakage), the FDA recommends an MRI (special x-ray of the breast) three years after surgery and every two years thereafter. This is not covered by insurance.
  • If it breaks, the implant could cause pain, hardness or capsular contraction. It could also change in shape and possibly migrate or move elsewhere in the body, lymph nodes, etc.
  • Even though the breast may retain its shape (because the silicone holds itself together), ruptured or broken implants need to be replaced.
  • Health insurance coverage might be affected or changed. Women need to check with their insurance company ahead of time.
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ted eisenberg logo Dr. Ted Eisenberg 1-888-SHAPE-12

Copyright 2000-2008. Dr. Ted Eisenberg. All Rights Reserved. Web design by incompra. Disclaimer: Women depicted in the Before & After Galleries and Patient Letters are actual patients, while women depicted in the animation header are models — not actual patients. Dr. Ted Eisenberg specializes in cosmetic surgery procedures, such as breast augmentations, breast implants and breast lifts. This site is not intended to be medical advice, but to provide information about Dr. Ted Eisenberg, board certified plastic surgeon, performing plastic surgery on patients from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Wilmington and Dover, Delaware, New York, Ohio and Maryland.