|
A breast implant is a prosthesis used to enlarge the size of a woman's breasts (known as breast augmentation, breast enlargement or augmentation mammoplasty) for cosmetic reasons; or to reconstruct the breast (e.g. after a mastectomy; or to correct genetic deformities). According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States. 329,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed in 2006.
There are two primary types of breast implants: saline filled and silicone gel filled implants. Saline implants have a silicone elastomer shell filled with sterile saline liquid. Silicone gel implants have a silicone shell filled with a viscous silicone gel.
|