Many women, at least once in their life, may be concerned with the size of their breasts. In some cases breast implants become a solution to the dissatisfaction. But unless they have been seriously interested in getting implants, few women are familiar with the details behind the procedure.

There are two groups of women who would generally be interested in implants. The first group is those women who have lost their breasts to a disease such as cancer. The second group is made up of women who are simply not happy with the proportion of their ‘little girls’.

Regardless of which group one belongs to, there are some basic facts that you need to know before making this kind of decision.

Silicon vs. Silicone

There are two types of implants. The saline filled implants have a silicone rubber shell and are filled with sterile salt water. The second type is the silicone implant. The latter has the silicone rubber shell as well, but it is filled with silicone gel. According to experts, the saline implants have a firmer look, while the silicone implants have a more natural look.

Many people would not think there is a difference between ‘silicon’ and ‘silicone’ (notice the ‘e’). Silicon is a natural element. It is the second most abundant substance in nature. Silicone on the other hand is man made. It is a combination of silicon and oxygen and it is generally used as a sealant, lubricant, or adhesive.

A Brief History

Silicone implants were first developed in Texas during the early 1960s. In 1962, Timmie Jean Lindsey was the first woman in America to receive silicone implants. Shortly thereafter they made their first appearance on the Canadian market.