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Silicone Breast Implants: Are They Safe?

image Silicone breast implants are allowed in cosmetic surgery in the United States again, after having been banned for over a decade. In November 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of silicone gel-filled breast implants after determining that they are safe and effective. They are approved for breast reconstruction in women of any age and for breast augmentation in women 18 years or older. Here is a summary of the controversy behind silicone breast implants.

History

The controversy over silicone breast implants began in the 1980s, when unscientific accounts linking connective tissue disease to silicone implants started to surface. Around this same time, a multimillion dollar lawsuit was filed alleging a connection between silicone implants and systemic disease.

In 1992, the FDA determined that there was not enough safety data to support continued approval of silicone implants. Up until 2006, silicone implants had only been allowed in certain cases. Specifically, only women undergoing reconstructive surgery or revision surgery (implant removal or replacement) and those enrolled in a clinical trial could receive silicone implants. Women seeking breast augmentation for cosmetic purposes were only allowed to receive saline implants.

In 1997, the US House of Representatives asked the Department of Health and Human Services to carefully study the safety of silicone breast implants. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) took up the effort and wrote a comprehensive report published in 1999. Among the findings was evidence that silicone implants do not cause major disease, including breast cancer and autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, Raynaud’s phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma. The IOM report also stated that silicone implants do not harm developing fetuses or breastfed infants.

Factors to Consider Before Getting Implants

It is important to be well-informed before making a decision that can impact the rest of your life. You should discuss your options carefully with your doctor and be sure you know all the benefits and risks. Especially consider these factors:

Information for Women with Silicone Implants

A recent FDA safety report points out that there is currently no conclusive evidence showing that silicone breast implants cause conditions like breast cancer, reproductive problems, or rheumatoid arthritis.

If you decide to have silicone implants, you should follow these safety tips from the FDA:

RESOURCES:

Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
https://csaps.ca

The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
http://www.plasticsurgery.ca

REFERENCES:

Brown SL, Pennello G. Replacement surgery and silicone gel breast implant rupture: self-report by women after mammoplasty. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2002;11(3):255-264.

FDA breast implant consumer handbook. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm064242.htm. Updated August 20, 2013. Accessed February 16, 2016.

FDA update on the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/implantsandprosthetics/breastimplants/UCM260090.pdf. Accessed February 16, 2016.

Gladfelter J. The return of silicone gel-filled breast implants: will you be ready? Plas Surg Nurs. 2005;25(1):44-46.

Institute of Medicine, Grigg M, Bondurant S, Ernster VL, Herdman R. Information for women about the safety of silicone breast implants. National Academies Collection. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/9618/information-for-women-about-the-safety-of-silicone-breast-implants. Accessed February 16, 2016.

FDA provides updated safety data on silicone gel-filled breast implants. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm260235.htm. Updated April 1, 2014. Accessed February 16, 2016.

Last reviewed February 2016 by Michael Woods, MD