FDA Allows Silicone Implants

As you may have read the FDA has just allowed use of silicone breast implants. I have been in practice for more than 25 years. In the first few years of my practice in cosmetic surgery, silicone implants were the only implants available. At the time I felt that most patients got good results but some had reactions to the implants and ended up hard deformed looking breasts. They were not happy and neither was I.

When silicone was banned, we were left with saline implants and I had fewer problems and the patients were for the most part extremely satisfied. I saw a problem, however, in patients who were thin and had very little breast tissue. Despite placing the implants under the chest muscles to protect the implants from being felt and seen through the skin and to help give the round implants a better shape by having the muscle compress the upper portion of the implant, I found that these particular patients still did not look oe feel normal.

Now with the return of silicone implants, which are now deemed safe by the FDA, I think the this problem will be solved. Patients who want the silicone implants must be aware that the makers of these implants are going to charge more for these and that the costs will be increased for the surgeons and this in turn will mean a steep increase in the costs of the procedure for the patients. Patients should also remember that a larger incision will have to be made to allow insertion of these semi-solid silicone implants. The FDA has also recommended that each patient have close follow up with mammograms and other tests and that the patients should be prepared to have them replaced in ten yrs. They also want patients to be at least 22 years or older. All of these are recommendations that I think are reasonable.