Are silicone breast implants safe?
Concern over the association of breast implants with the development of autoimmune or connective tissue diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis, was raised because of cases of these diseases reported in some women with breast implants. A review of several large epidemiological studies of women with and without breast implants indicates that these diseases are no more common in women with breast implants than those women without breast implants. The Institute of Medicine concluded that: “There is no evidence that silicone implants are responsible for any major diseases of the whole body. Women are exposed to silicone constantly in their daily lives.
The controversy over the safety of silicone breast implants was founded more on the desire to wage successful litigation with lucrative awards, than on science. It was raised more to shift public opinion in the direction of paranoia and “uncover” some sinister plot while building a “solid” career in journalism, than to extricate fact from events. The battle was a classic of example of lies repeated long enough, loud enough, and by enough visible and “educated” people to sway the opinion of juries from fact to confabulation. One thing for certain, science, fact, or truth had nothing to do with the conduct of the players. Money, greed, and ambition had everything to do with it. Let’s begin by noting first that nothing in life is guaranteed. In allowing oneself to be implanted with breast prosthesis, a patient is permitting an unnatural act upon herself. A foreign substance is placed into a consenting body.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, silicone breast implants are safe and effective for use in breast augmentation, revision, and reconstruction procedures. Clinical studies have shown no link between silicone implants and certain health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. Various Institute of Medicine reports support these conclusions.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the safety of silicone breast implants became a matter of much debate. Several lawsuits, where women had been exposed to silicone through puncture or rupture of the silicone implants were won after women developed neurological or autoimmune conditions. These early wins led to more lawsuits and studies. While many expected these studies would show silicone implants to be unsafe, in fact they did not. Even though no defined link between breast cancer, autoimmune disease, or neurological problems as a result of silicone exposure was found, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US ordered silicone implants off the markets in 1999. They were replaced by saline implants, which according to some, were inferior due to their “less natural” look and feel. Extensive research conducted by scientists across the world, however, proved that silicone implants were relatively safe. The greatest risk factors involved in using them were scarring or hardening of the bre
When the FDA halted the use of silicone breast implants in 1992, it was not due to any proven dangers associated with them. It was simply due to a lack of information about their safety. There was some suggestion that, in the rare case of a leaking implant, silicone gel was linked to a variety of medical problems. Silicone gel implants have now been studied for over a decade since the FDA called for a suspension of their use, and researchers have still found no link between health problems and silicone breast implants. Patients from Boston, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and other parts of New England often come to Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center to have breast augmentation with silicone breast implants as part of a safe study that has been approved by the FDA. back to top Contact Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lawrence N. Gray about silicone breast implants. Serving residents in Vermont, Maine, Boston, and throughout Massachusetts, our practice can
