Frequently asked questions

Breast implants come in a variety of shapes, surface textures and sizes. All breast implants are made of a round or shaped silicone elastomer (rubber) outer shell. Breast implants can be either saline-filled or silicone gel-filled.

Saline-filled breast implants have a self sealing valve that is used for filling the implant with sterile saline solution (salt water) at the time of surgery.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are pre-filled with a soft cohesive silicone gel.

Silicones are a family of chemical compounds. They are made from silicon, a naturally occurring element found in sand, quartz and rock. Next to oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the earth's crust and becomes silicone when it is combined with oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. Silicone can be processed into many forms including liquid, gel or a rubber-like elastomer. In its various forms silicone can be found in everyday items such as polishes, lotions, deodorants, soaps, processed foods, waterproof coatings and even chewing gum.

Cohesion describes a gel's tendencies to stick together. All silicone gel-filled breast implants available today are filled with cohesive gel.

Yes. Health Canada has evaluated the data and approved Natrelle^™ Breast Implants for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are arguably the most studied medical devices and decades of research have evaluated their safety and effectiveness. The safety of Allergan's devices for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction is supported by extensive preclinical testing, U.S. clinical studies, a European rupture prevalence study, peer-reviewed literature and 25 years of real-world experience in more than 60 countries. Learn the facts about the safety of silicone.

In addition, the Institute of Medicine recently concluded that "There is no convincing evidence for atypical connective tissue disease or rheumatic disease or a novel constellation of signs and symptoms in women with silicone breast implants." More information about the safety of silicone gel-filled implants can be found in the Institute of Medicine report at www.nap.edu/catalog/9618.html.

Yes. As a recipient of Natrelle^™ style breast implants you are already protected against rupture or deflation under our ConfidencePlus® Warranty Program. The ConfidencePlus® Warranty includes lifetime product replacement in addition to 10 years of up to $1200 guaranteed financial assistance for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance.

By upgrading to the ConfidencePlus® Premier Warranty for a $100 enrollment fee you can get enhanced protection. In addition to your lifetime product replacement, our ConfidencePlus® Premier Warranty guarantees 10 years of contralateral replacement and financial assistance with up to $2400 in out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance.

The Natrelle^™ Collection of Breast Implants are covered by a warranty program called ConfidencePlus warranty – please visit www.cppwarranty.com to learn more about this program, consider the next tier of warranty and to register. This site is currently only available in English – to download a bilingual registration form please click here

Since 2002, Natrelle^™ Gel-Filled Breast Implants were available through a Health Canada Special Access Program that allowed physicians to seek permission to use silicone-gel filled breast implants on a case-by-case basis.

Breast implant rupture is considered to be one of the most common concerns for all breast implants. Breast implants are not considered to be lifetime devices nor are they expected to last forever. Some implants may rupture in the first year after being implanted or after several years. Rupture is an opening in the implant shell. Silicone implant ruptures may be silent (no symptoms) or symptomatic. Some factors associated with breast implant rupture include increasing age of the implant, trauma, compression during mammography and damage by surgical instruments. For more information, please read the complete patient information. .

Although there is no immediate danger to your health should you suspect that your breast implant may be ruptured or leaking, you should consult with your plastic surgeon and have the implant removed. Rupture of a silicone gel-filled breast implant is most often "silent." Silent rupture is a rupture without symptoms and which is not apparent except through appropriate imaging techniques such as an MRI. This along with additional testing may be required to confirm rupture. Additionally, possible surgery to remove and replace your breast implant may be required. For more information, please read the complete patient information.

Breast implants rupture when the shell develops a tear or hole. Ruptures can occur at any time after implantation, but they are more likely to occur the longer the implant has been implanted. Silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures are most often silent. (MRI examination is currently the best method to screen for silent rupture.) This means that most of the time, neither you nor your plastic surgeon will know if the implant has a tear or hole in the shell. For more information, please read the complete patient information.

The Institute of Medicine recently concluded that "Evidence suggests diseases or conditions such as connective tissue diseases, cancer, neurological diseases or other systemic complaints or conditions are no more common in women with breast implants than in women without implants." For more information, please read the complete patient information.

More information about the safety of silicone gel-filled implants can be found in the Institute of Medicine report at www.nap.edu/catalog/9618.html.

Published studies indicate that breast cancer is no more common in women with breast implants than in women without breast implants. In its authoritative 1999 report, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that, "There is no increase in primary or recurrent breast cancer in implanted women." For more information, please read the complete patient information.

Women with breast implants do not risk exposing their breastfed children to excessive amounts of silicone. The Institute of Medicine concluded "No evidence of elevated silicone in breast milk or any other substance that would be deleterious to infants (was found in women with silicone gel-filled breast implants)." They also determined "…that evidence for health effects in children related to maternal breast implants is insufficient or flawed".

However, breastfeeding difficulties have been reported following breast surgery, including breast reduction surgery, as well as breast augmentation surgery. If your surgeon uses a periareolar surgical approach (an incision around the coloured portion surrounding the nipple), it may further increase the possibility of breastfeeding difficulties. For more information, please read the complete patient information.
For more information, please read the complete patient information.

Mammography can pose a problem for women with breast implants. Mammograms produce an image of the inside of a woman's breast by compressing the breast. This presents a risk of rupture to the scar around the implant or a rupture of the implant itself.

However, the current recommendations for getting screening/preoperative mammograms are no different for women with breast implants than for those without implants. Mammography exams should be interpreted by radiologists experienced in the evaluation of women with breast implants. It is essential that you tell your mammography technologist before the procedure that you have a breast implant. You should request a diagnostic mammogram rather than a screening mammogram, because more pictures are taken with diagnostic mammography. The technologist can use special techniques to reduce the possibility of rupture and to get the best possible views of the breast tissue. For more information, please read the complete patient information.