Breast implant. Coloured mammogram X-ray of a silicone breast implant (blue), used for cosmetic surgery to alter the size and shape of the female breast. Seen from above (cranio-caudal view) the implant has been compressed into a rounded shape by the X-ray device. Glandular tissue of the breast (yellow) is seen at the sides and base of the implant; the chest is pink (upper left). Synthetic silicone is widely used as breast im- plants in cosmetic surgery. Apart from their use to increase breast size (augmentation mammo- plasty), a silicone implant can restore breast shape after breast tissue removal for cancer.