Breast surgery. View of surgeons carrying out breast enlargement (augmentation mammoplasty) cosmetic surgery. The surgeons have inserted a silicone prosthesis via an incision made in the breast and are in the process of stitching up the incision. Silicone implants are used in cosmetic surgery to enlarge a breast or to restore breast shape after breast tissue removal for cancer. Synthetic silicone is widely used in implants in cosmetic surgery because it is resistant to body fluids, permeable to oxygen and not rejected by the body. The gloves, gowns, face masks and caps are used to maintain sterile conditions.