Saline Breast Implants

The shell consists of a strong, silicone elastomer shell, and is filled with a sterile saline solution at the time of surgery. Should these implants rupture, the body will absorb the saline, much like drinking a glass of water. The sterile saline solution, used as the implant filler, should conform to the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) of Normal Physiological Saline (injection grade), which has a concentration of 0.15M and a pH of 7.2-7.4.

Saline implant sizes range from 120cc to 850cc. A patient wanting implants larger than 850cc will need custom implants. Currently, the only implants available for use in the United States are those manufactured by Mentor Corp. and Inamed.

A saline-filled implant is filled with sterile saline, which is sterile water with the same concentration of salt as many body fluids. Saline breast implants come in both smooth and textured shells and models that are round or anatomically (tear-drop) shaped, as well as in low and high profiles and in several sizes. They are constructed of an elastomer shell with a single valve on the front surface of the implant. A saline-filled breast implant is usually empty before it is implanted into you. The doctor moves it into place (either over or under the muscle) and then fills it from a sterile bag of saline. The saline is injected using a syringe and tubing similar to the way saline is dripped into your arm when you have an intravenous line, and it will remain sterile all the way into the implant and stay that way.