Breast Implants

Breast implants consist of a silicone shell filled with a saltwater solution called saline. Historically, breast implants were filled with silicone gel, but silicone gel was banned in 1992 due to safety issues. Saline implants are either round or teardrop shaped, and the implant surface can be smooth or textured.

Textured implants were created because it was believed that they would reduce the risk of capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is a risk associated with breast augmentation that results in the hardening of the tissue surrounding the breast. To date, there has been no hard evidence to support the textured implant theory, and in fact, textured implants can increase the risk of rippling in small-breasted women.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, several recent studies have found a slight increase in deaths due to suicide among women with cosmetic breast implants. The reason for this increase is unknown, although some suggest that this may be due to underlying psychological problems in women who get breast implants for cosmetic reasons. Others have suggested that women may be distressed because of the burden of breast implant complications.

We do not recommend breast augmentation surgery. However, if you decide to proceed, we do recommend asking lots of questions and getting clear answers. And we hope you will change your mind.

Special note to women with implants: Patients with breast implants should continue to be screened for breast cancer as recommended and should always inform clinicians performing the screening about their implants.

For an excellent video which provides a non-biased view of breast augmentation surgery, check out Breast Enlargement: Woman to Woman, produced in collaboration with The Breast Center in Van Nuys, Ca. During the video you will hear the personal breast augmentation stories of hundreds of women and the views of the world's leading authorities on breast enlargement, breast cancer, and general plastic surgery.