Safety of Silicone Breast Implants

What Are Silicone Breast Implants

• Silicone breast implants are made of a rubber silicone shell filled with a silicone gel. The shape and size of implants vary with the manufacturer.

Safety Concerns

• In the 1990s, silicone breast implants were banned by the FDA because of claims that the implants were making women ill and concerns that they increased risks of developing breast cancer and connective nerve tissue disease.

FDA Ban Lifted

• In 2006, the FDA lifted the ban on the manufacture and use of silicone breast implants after studies of claims that these implants increased the risk of cancer and disease ended up inconclusive.

Ongoing Studies

• Silicone breast implants are now approved for use in women age 22 and older for augmentation surgery, and in women of any age for breast reconstruction surgery. The FDA continues to conduct trials to evaluate the safety of silicone breast implants.

Considerations

• Be sure to ask your doctor about the risks and benefits before deciding if this type of implant, and procedure, is right for you.