One of the first things women feel they should know is what size their implants need to be. What is not wanted is to have adjustment surgery a short while after the initial implants were put in.

Past breast enhancement polls have indicated that women typically felt they should have asked for larger breast implants.

When considering undergoing breast augmentation surgery it is important to have an idea in your own head of what size implants you would like. What kind of feel and look do you want? Remember that everyone will have their own opinion, your surgeon possibly wanting to implant breasts that differ considerably from what you would like. You need to listen to all the advice you come in to contact with and them mix and merge that which you like.

A whole variety of implants exist, smooth or textured, round or anatomical, silicone or saline.

Smooth surfaced implants generally have the advantage of wrinkling less than other implants, therefore are best if you want to place the implant above the muscle tissue. If capsular contraction has occurred with saline implants textured models are more advisable.

Problems with smooth silicone implants are that they are more likely to cause capsular contracture than if they were textured. Saline implants have no real difference between this likelihood, what ever their coating texture.

Since 1992 when the US authorities banned the use of silicon gel breast implants women have been receiving saline filled implants. Silicone implants have recently found their way back into this market, but only in unusual cases.

To date silicone has the most realistic look and feel when in implants. The dangers, which are still largely unknown, are that silicone leaks and causes bodily problems like auto-immune disease or a rare allergic reaction.

Saline implants have been labeled as far less risky, their saltwater content being able to leak harmlessly into someone's body. These implants are also often able to be topped up or reduced in volume at later dates due to careful improved positioning of re-usable valves.

Two types of implant shape exist, those that are round and those that are anatomical.

Round implants have always felt and looked the most natural, alongside having the least number of complications. One possible downfall is that they are thought not to offer the best support of the upper portion of the breast over the long-term.

Contoured breast implants, the shape of teardrops, have often been more effective at supporting the upper breast area of long chested women. This type of implant requires texturing so that it binds with the surrounding tissue and doesn't alter its position creating an unsightly breast shape. Although having greater numbers of complications, excellent surgeons do sometimes favor this type of implant, so do ask whether it would be applicable for your situation.

During the autumn of 2001 so called 'High Profile' (HP) implants were produced that had the tallest central projection to width, available in both silicone or saline, textured or smooth. Smooth HP saline implants ripple less than smooth round saline implants. These implants can be filled once only during initial surgery due to their anterior diaphragm valves.