Silicone

Silicon is an element. It behaves chemically similar to carbon and like carbon forms long polymer chains. Silicones are such polymers made of an alternating silicon, oxygen backbone. The R group varies among various silicones as does the chain length.

The physical form of the silicone depends on these variations in the following manner:

Low Molecular weight silicones from oils.
Middle molecular weight form gels.
High molecular weight form elastomers or rubbers.

Silicone is a well known biomaterial with a long history of positive results and has been used in many FDA approved devices. Silicone is used in almost all breast implants. In silicone gel implants, a silicone elastomer envelope encases a silicone gel. In saline implants, a silicone elastomer envelope encases saline solution. In both cases the body is in direct contact with silicone.

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