A breast implant is a prosthesis used to alter the size, form, and feel of a woman’s breasts in post–mastectomy breast reconstruction; for correcting chest wall congenital deformities; for the aesthetic enhancement of the bust; and as a procedural aspect of male-to-female gender transition surgery. There are three general types of breast implant devices defined by their filler material: saline, silicone, and composite (alternative composition). The saline implant has an elastomer silicone shell filled with sterile saline solution, the silicone implant has an elastomer silicone shell filled with viscous silicone gel, and the alternative composition implants featured miscellaneous fillers, such as soy oil and polypropylene string, et cetera. The pectoral implant is the male breast implant device for reconstructive and aesthetic enhancement of a man’s chest wall, (see mastopexy). In breast reconstruction surgery, the breast tissue expander implant is a temporary breast-implant device used in staged breast reconstruction.

What You Need to Know About Breast Implants

Breast implants give you more control over your size, shape, and profile. Implant plastic surgery can improve appearance after aging and childbearing and can restore a more youthful appearance.
(Note that sagging breasts require a breast lift, which can be performed with or without implants.)
In breast augmentation with implants (augmentation mammoplasty), the implants are inserted behind breast tissue or above the breast muscle. Implants range in volume from 120 mL (milliliters) to 850 mL. You can view examples in our breast augmentation before-and-after photos.
In addition to the volume range, implants vary in shape, profile, outer thickness, and outer surface layer.
Read more about implant anatomy.
An alternative to traditional implants is fat grafting breast augmentation, which involves harvesting fat by liposuction from an area of your body where you have plenty. The fat cells are then processed and injected into the breasts. It can also be used to even out any imperfections left behind after breast augmentation with implants or breast reconstruction.

Silicone Implants

Some women feel that silicone implants are smoother and softer than saline-filled implants. These implants feel like a semisolid gel. Because of their smooth surface, silicone implants are often preferable for women who have little breast tissue, particularly for women undergoing breast reconstruction.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed silicone implants from the general consumer market in 1992 as a precautionary measure over conflicting reports of possible complications, some of which required breast implant removal. However, they were reapproved in 2005. (Read more about implants and the FDA.)
Options under development include cohesive silicone gel implants — also called gummy bear implants — and saline implants that allow implant volume to be adjusted after surgery. Cohesive implants are currently under FDA review. They are claimed to hold their shape better than saline or older silicone gel implants and look and feel more natural. The gummy consistency decreases the likelihood of rippling and should provide greater safety because, being more solid, the silicone will tend not to escape from the shell if it were to rupture.

Procedure

Depending on the patient and the desired outcome, breast augmentation surgery can be a very simple or very complex procedure.

After pre-operative preparation, the surgery starts by cutting one incision into the patient for each implant. The incisions are small and placed so that the scarring is minimal and hard to see. Once the incision is created, the surgeon must cut a path through the tissue to the final destination of the implant. Once that path has been created, the tissue and/or muscle (depending on placement) must be separated to create a pocket for the implant. This is where the surgeon's skill really comes into play: When deciding where to cut the pocket in the breast, the surgeon must predict what the breasts will look like once the implants are filled. In more extreme augmentation surgeries, this involves repositioning the nipple, adjusting for cleavage and creating a new crease under the breast.
In some cases, augmentation surgery is accompanied by mastopexy (breast lift) surgery so that everything ends up in the right place. To aid in positioning, the surgeon may decide to use a sizer or disposable implant. Sizers are temporary implants attached to a tube that the surgeon can work inside the pocket and fill up to test placement, implant size and fill levels. Once this has been tested, the sizer is removed and replaced with the permanent implant.
When inflatable implants are used, they are rolled up like a cigar and pushed into the incision, through the channel and into place. This is true no matter which type of incision is used (we'll talk about incisions in the following sections). Once the implant is positioned, the incision is closed. In the last step, the surgeon uses a syringe to fill the implant with saline through the valve, filling it to the predetermined size.
If the patient has opted to use pre-filled implants, the incision will be larger. Inserting textured, pre-filled implants requires the longest incision, providing more room for inserting an implant with a rough shell and for manipulating the less-pliable implant once it's in place.
Plastic surgeons can use one of four different types of incisions to insert the implant into the breast: peri-areolar, inframammary fold, transaxillary, and TUBA. In the next sections, we will learn the difference between these types of incision.

Risks

Risks associated with this procedure are similar to those of any surgical procedure. These risks include bleeding, infection, reaction to anesthesia, or unexpected scarring. A breast enlargement may also result in decreased sensation in the breast or interference with breastfeeding. Implants can also make it more difficult to read and interpret mammograms, possibly delaying breast cancer detection. Also, the implant itself can rupture and leak, or become displaced. A thick scar that normally forms around the implant, called a capsule, can become very hard. This is called capsular contracture, and may result in pain and possible altered appearance of the breast. The chances that these problems will occur increase with the age of the implant.
There has been intermittent publicity about possible health risks associated with breast implants. Most concerns have focused on silicone gel-filled implants that leaked or ruptured. In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restricted the use of this type of implant and ordered further studies. Today only saline-filled implants are used for cosmetic breast surgery. Recent studies have shown no evidence of long-term health risks from intact silicone implants. However, research on possible links between these implants and autoimmune or connective tissue diseases is continuing.

Aftercare

Many normal activities such as driving may be restricted for up to one week. Sutures are usually removed in seven to 10 days. Typically, a woman can resume all routines, including vigorous exercise , in about three weeks. The scars will be red for approximately one month, but will fade to their final appearance within one to two years.

Type of Breast Implants
The cost also counts on what type of breast augmentation and implant procedure you choose. There are two types of procedures; saline-filled implants and silicone-filled implants. The first one is a bit more inexpensive than the latter procedure. Normally, saline-filled implants may cost you around $3,500, whereas silicone-filled implants can cost you approximately $4,500. If the surgery has to be done on small breasts, the cost might be lower, and vice versa. There also may be some additional procedures required to be done, which may add up to the overall cost.
Average Cost of Breast Implants
The typical cost of breast implants may include the anesthesia cost which ranges from $600 to $800, the breast augmentation and implant procedure charges which range from $1,000 and $1,300, the operating surgeon's service charges which may range from $3,000 to $4,000, and lastly, other miscellaneous expenses which may arise due to complications during the procedure. With all the above considerations, the average cost of breast implants may go up to $8,000-$9,000.

Breast Implant Shapes

Round and teardrop breast implants are the two implant shapes used for breast enlargement. Many women select round breast implants because they add the most lift and proportion. However, more and more women are choosing teardrop-shaped implants, also known as contoured breast implants, because these women desire breast enlargement that looks as natural as possible. Learn more about breast implant shapes and how they are used to augment breast shape and size.

Breast Implant Textures

The surface texture of breast implants can be either smooth or textured. Smooth-surfaced breast implants are used in most breast enlargement surgeries because they are softer, have a reduced risk of rippling, and cost less than textured implants. However, the sandpaper-like surface of textured breast implants helps maintain vertical alignment, a desired trait for breast enlargement with teardrop-shaped implants. Learn more about the different breast implant textures and their advantages and disadvantages.

Breast Implant Sizes

Breast implants are available in a variety sizes, from small (125cc) to very large (1200cc). Women who desire a perky, more youthful breast contour are better served by choosing a more conservative implant size. Women whose primary objective is breast enlargement will achieve the best results with larger breast implants. Learn about small breast implants and large breast implants and how different sizes help women achieve their breast enhancement goals.

Breast Implant Types

An FDA moratorium on silicone breast implants instituted in 1992 caused saline implants to be used almost exclusively for breast enlargement procedures in the United States for many years. However, in November 2006 the FDA once again allowed silicone breast implants for general use. Cohesive silicone gel implants have not yet been approved for general use by the FDA, but clinical trials are currently being conducted to determine their safety and effectiveness. Learn more about saline breast implants, silicone breast implants, and cohesive silicone gel breast implants and the benefits and downsides of each type.

Breast Enlargement Surgical Techniques: Incision Location

The location of the incisions through which breast implants are placed is a very important consideration in breast enlargement surgery. While the surgeon's goal is to make the incisions as inconspicuous as possible, the size, shape, and type of breast implants used and each patient's unique body structure play a role in determining incision location. Learn more about the four incision techniques used for placement of breast implants: the inframammary fold incision, the areola incision, the transaxillary incision, and the navel incision.

Breast Enlargement Surgical Techniques: Implant Placement

Breast implants placed under the pectoral muscle can provide a more natural look but require more extensive surgery and a more painful recovery. Subglandular placement of breast implants for breast enlargement is easily accomplished and allows quicker recovery, but the results may not be as natural-looking. Learn more about submuscular placement and subglandular placement of breast implants and the pros and cons of each method.