Introduction
Breast implant surgery is the most common type of cosmetic surgerycarried out on women in the UK.
In 2011, just over 10,000 women had breast implant surgery for cosmetic purposes.
Breast implants can be used for two purposes:
Reconstructive – to reconstruct the breast mound following a mastectomy (the surgical removal of the breast often used to treat breast cancer)
Cosmetic – to enhance the size and shape of the breast
Read more about why breast implants are used.
Types of breast implants
Breast implants are artificial (prosthetic) implants. In the UK, two types of breast implants are commonly used:
Silicone gel implants – available as a liquid, a gel or a solid form similar to plastic
Saline (sterile salt water) implants
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