Saline-filled implants are currently the most common implant used in the United States when it comes to this cosmetic surgery. They are also the only alternative to silicone implants. However with the lifting of the ban on silicone implants from Nov 2006, this is likely to change in favour of silicone implants. Good to excellent results may be obtained with saline implants, but as compared to silicone gel implants, saline implants are more likely to cause cosmetic problems such as rippling, wrinkling, and be noticeable to the eye or the touch. They also have a more “slushy” consistency compared to silicone gel implants. Furthermore if the shell of the implant should develop a small leak the salt water is absorbed by the body but the risk of this is about 5% over a ten year period. This results in the breast becoming flat and another operation is needed to insert a new implant. Particularly for women with very little breast tissue, or for post-mastectomy reconstruction, plastic surgeons believe that silicone gel implants are the superior device. In patients with more breast tissue, however, saline implants can look very similar to silicone gel.