What is a Breast Implant?

Frequently Asked Questions: Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants

A breast implant is a sac (implant shell) of silicone elastomer (rubber), which is surgically implanted under your chest tissues. Implants may be filled with either saline or silicone gel.

MemoryGel™ Silicone Gel Breast Implants

The MemoryGel™ silicone breast implants you've been hearing about have actually been trusted and in use for almost 20 years. Sometimes they are referred to as "gummy bear implant" style due to their cohesiveness.

This is because MemoryGel™ silicone breast implants feature a cohesive, gelatin-like silicone substance that acts as a solid rather than a liquid. It holds together uniformly while still retaining the natural give of breast tissue.

MemoryGel™ silicone breast implants feel more like natural breast tissue.

Over a million women all over the world have them. And now, after almost two decades of research with surgeons and patients, MemoryGel™ breast implants, exclusively from Mentor, are available now available in the U.S.

MemoryGel™ breast implants are available in a variety of profiles (which refers to the amount of forward projection off the chest wall, in relation to the base width of the implant), This allows your doctor to achieve a better match between desired breast projection and your individual body frame. Ask your plastic surgeon for greater detail on selecting the right breast implant for you.

Saline-Filled Breast Implants

The saline breast implant is inflated with a saline (salt-water) solution through a valve. Saline is much like the fluid that makes up most of the human body. Mentor manufactures two types/families of implants filled with saline — one referred to as Saline-Filled and the other referred to as Spectrum® implants. The Saline-Filled family of implants has a self-sealing valve located on the front (anterior) of the implant that is used for filling the device. The Spectrum® family has a valve on the back (posterior) of the implant that allows saline to be added after surgery (postoperative adjustability). Mentor's Spectrum implant is a saline-filled breast implant that lets your physician adjust the size of your breasts after your surgery. In a simple office procedure, your physician can change your implant size by either adding or removing saline for up to six months after your surgery.