What Are the Different Types of Silicone Implants?

Im going to my pre-op appointment in a few days and my breast augmentation surgery/tubular breast correction is in a couple weeks. I have decided that i want silicone (but am still deliberating whether i want 350 or 375cc's). What are the different kinds of silicone implants? what brands make implants and which one is the best?

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by Bambi369 in Castro Valley, CA

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Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Thank you for your question. At this time, there are 2 companies that make FDA approved silicone gel implants - the companies are Mentor and Allergan. There are many sizes, profiles, etc. and so your plastic surgeon needs to know what your goals are to determine what implant will give achieve your goals. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. I use intraoperative sizers and... more

Silicone implants - many choices

Currently, there are two FDA-approved brands of breast implants in the US. They are: Mentor and Allergan/Natrelle. There are several different styles, shapes and surfaces. Each has its own specific advantages. When you meet with a board certified plastic surgeon, he/she will review these options with you.

George John Alexander, MD

3 reviews

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

What are the different types of silicone implants

Whether you think there are different types of silicone implants depends on whether you are a "lumper" or a "splitter". There is basically one type of silicone implant currently being used in the United States. Allergan and Mentor manufacture and sell silicone implants of this type. There are some minor differences in the implants produced by the two manufacturers. There are also different profiles: higher profile (more like a baseball) and lower... more

Types of Silicone Implants

There are two manufacturers that sell FDA approved silicone gel implants in the U.S. They are Mentor and Allergan. Both of these companies make high quality implants. The implants made by both manufacturers are filled with cohesive gel. This means that if you were to cut the shell of one of the implants, the silicone gel fill material will not leak out but will for the most part stay within the shell of the implant. Just like saline implants, silicone gel... more

Laurence Weider, MD

48 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Different Types of Silicone Implants

There are two major manufacturers of breast implants in the USA. While these two manufacturers (Allergan and Mentor) supply the vast majority of implants used by US surgeons, there are other smaller manufacturers, as well. Most surgeons regard the quality of implants from Allergan and Mentor as equivalent. The newer implants are all a more cohesive gel than the implants of 10 years ago. This means the gel sticks to itself: cutting through an implant is like cutting a marshmallow, the... more

Types Of Silicone Breast Implants

At this time there are essentially only two major manufacturers of silicone breast implants in this country. Neither is necessarily better than the other. Most surgeons tend to use one based on other things such as service from the salesperson. The differences are only related to sizes and profiles. If you feel strongly about one or the other, most surgeons will use your preference.