5 Things To Know About Breast Implants: Introduction

First things first about breast implants:

In the United States, the FDA has approved implants for increasing breast size in women, for reconstruction after breast cancer surgery or trauma, and to correct developmental defects. Implants are also approved to correct or improve the result of a previous surgery.

A number of studies have reported that a majority of breast augmentation and reconstruction patients are satisfied with the results of their surgery.

So far, the FDA has approved two types of breast implants for sale in the U.S.: saline (salt water solution)-filled and silicone gel-filled. Both have a silicone outer shell and vary in size, shell thickness and shape.


There are risks associated with breast implantation. These include the following:

• the need for additional surgeries
• capsular contracture—scar tissue that squeezes the implant, possibly until it breaks
• breast pain and tenderness
• rupture (tears or holes in the shell) with deflation of saline-filled implants
• silent (without symptoms) rupture of silicone gel-filled implants

FDA experts suggest five things women should know about breast implants.

For more information please visit
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm338144.htm