Implants and Prosthetics

Abstract

Breast implants are highly popular medical devices employed by a plastic surgeon to revamp the breast's size and contour for cosmetic and reconstructive reasons or as part of gender reassignment surgery. Some women opt for breast implants for cosmetic breast augmentation while some others get it done for reconstructive purposes, as in the case of post-mastectomy in breast cancer patients, trauma, severe congenital deformities. The prototype of modern breast implants was comprised of a sterile saline-filled silicone rubber shell, empty, balloon-like device, smooth or textured, permitting suitable alterations in size for asymmetrical breasts. Saline-filled breast implants may be single or double, barrier coated or covered with polyurethane foam; they may be either pre-filled or filled during the surgical implantation and distended with sterile isotonic saline to the optimal desired size. Popularly, doctors, patients tend to choose silicone gel over saline implants as they offer quality results, smoother texture and feel more like real breasts, making them the implants of choice.