Breast implants are textured silicone bags and can be filled with saline (salt water) or silicone gel. Implants are often referred to as prostheses. Research into the use of different materials to make implants is always ongoing.
Saline:
Saline (salt water) has the advantage of not causing any problems if it leaks out into the body. However, saline-filled implants do not have the natural feel of silicone-filled implants and give a less realistic reconstructed breast. Saline implants are more likely to leak or wrinkle than silicone implants and can make breast x-rays slightly more difficult to read.
Silicone:
Silicone implants are very commonly used in the UK. These implants are essentially bags of silicone gel enclosed in a thin silicone rubber case. They are designed to feel soft and flexible, like a natural breast, and there are many different types. They can be breast-shaped or rounded, and filled with solid or liquid gel.
The silicone gel filling makes the breast feel more natural than saline. However, there have been some concerns about possible health risks if silicone leaks from the implant. If a silicone implant ruptures, surgery may be needed to remove the implant. Like saline, silicone implants can appear cloudy on x-rays, making mammograms slightly more difficult to read. It is possible to get a good mammogram of a breast containing an implant, but the radiographer needs to be told that an implant is there.
Some newer types of prostheses contain solid silicone gel, and it is hoped that these will be safer.
(from cancerbackup.org)
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