Silicone gel filled breast implants are safe and effective for use in breast enhancement surgery. Since the initial introduction of silicone breast implants in 1962, they have undergone sequential advances to improve the durability of the implants. The implants used today have a much stronger shells to decrease gel bleed. The implants are also filled with a thicker and more cohesive gel. These two advances have dramatically improved the safety of silicone gel breast implants for breast augmentation. More and more plastic surgeons are recommending silicone gel breast implants for breast enlargement.
In 1992, the FDA placed a moratorium on all silicone gel breast implants for cosmetic applications. The FDA concluded there was “inadequate information to demonstrate that breast implants were safe and effective.” Since than, exhausting studies have failed to show any “evidence suggests diseases or conditions such as connective tissue diseases, cancer, neurological diseases or other systemic complaints or conditions are no more common in women with breast implants than in women without implants.” Faced with overwhelming evidence, the FDA lifted the moratorium on silicone gel breast implant in 2006.
Silicone gel filled breast implants offer several advantages over saline breast implants:
- Softer and more natural feel.
- Decrease likelihood of wrinkling and palpability.
- Increased upper pole fullness.
Disadvantages of silicone breast implants:
- Longer incision
- Limited incision choice
Today, 80% of my patients are choosing silicone gel breast implants for primary breast enhancement surgery. For revisions and breast lifts, almost all of my patients are using silicone breast implants. Silicone gel filled breast implants are safe and effective for the use in cosmetic breast surgery.
