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The three types of saline-filled breast implants are as follows:
- One type is a single lumen implant that is filled during the operation with a fixed volume of saline through a valve. There are no adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.
- A second type is a single lumen implant that is filled during the operation with saline through a valve. This type of implant allows for adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.
- A third type is a single lumen implant that is prefilled by the manufacturer with a fixed volume of saline. There are no valves for filling during the operation or for adjustments of the saline volume after the operation.
The silicone rubber shell for a saline-filled breast implant has the following general composition:
- cured polymeric (large) silicones
- approximately 20% of finely powdered silica that is tightly bound to the silicone polymers
- small amounts of smaller silicones
- minute amounts (parts per million) of metals, including a metal catalyst (usually tin, zinc, or platinum) (A catalyst is something that causes a change in material.)
- traces of readily evaporating materials (volatiles), such as xylene and other organic compounds.
The filler is sterile saline that should conform to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards for Normal Physiological Saline (injection grade). 2
Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants
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