Are Silicone Breast Implants Safe? Setting Your Mind at Ease

As a plastic surgery group practice in the heart of Beverly Hills we are frequently asked if silicone implants are safe and what are the risks associated with silicone breast augmentation.  Simply put, it is our implant of choice for the majority of the breast augmentation procedures performed in our practice.  Our practice is based on the principals of evidence-based medicine and we live by the phrase “First, do no harm”.

It was believed that silicone breast implants caused systemic disease and therefore they were removed from the market until further studies were performed.

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a comprehensive report of the published
literature and ongoing studies on breast implants, entitled Safety of Silicone Breast Implants.  The report made a clear distinction between local complications and systemic health concerns.  It concluded that local complications were “the primary safety issue with silicone breast implants.” These local complications, which included rupture, pain, capsular contracture, disfigurement, and serious infection are common for both silicone and saline implants.

Most importantly, the report concluded that there was NO EVIDENCE that silicone breast implants caused systemic health effects such as cancer, autoimmune disease or reproductive problems.

In 2006, the new cohesive gel implants were introduced to the market after thorough FDA investigation and approval.

If you are interested in silcone breast implantation, please call us at the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group for your free consultation at (310) 275-6600.