 Silicones are a family of chemical compounds. They are made from silicon, a naturally occurring element found in sand, quartz and rock. After oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the earths crust, and becomes silicone when it is combined with oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. Short chains are liquid, progressing to gel, foam and finally a hard resin or rubbery material, called elastomers. A silicone implant has an elastomer outer layer which can be smooth or rough (textured) and an inner gel with different consistencies. Some implants also have a protective barrier between two elastomer layers to reduce any possible gel diffusion.
Another form of silicone is dimethicone. This is found in hairsprays, suntanlotions and moisturising creams. The liquid form is for coating surgical needles and suture thread and inthe interior surfaces of syringes and bottles used for storage of blood. Protective silicone coatings are usedin pacemakers and heart valves. Silicones are also used in artificial joints, catheters, drainagesystems, facial implants and tissue expanders.
Silicone products have been found to be biocompatible (accepted by the human body without adverse reaction), reliable, flexible andeasy to sterilize. This makes themideal for the use as implants.
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