Five Myths About Silicone Breast Implants

There is no question that breast augmentation practices and procedures have produced a number of clinical problems and public relations nightmares over the last fifty years.  The most primitive introduction of artificial material for purposes of breast augmentation appeared in the form of silicone injections pioneered, apparently, in the early ‘60s.  There were numerous reports of the silicone hardening and creating health problems that resulted in mastectomies in order to rid the body of the silicone.

The first silicon implants were introduced in 1961 by Dow Corning, working in conjunction with a couple of Houston surgeons.  The other option for breast augmentation implants was, and continues to be, silicone sacs filled with saline solution.  Both products were on the market up to 1990 and both exhibited highly publicized flaws. 

Dow Corning went through an enormous process of litigation involving individual and class action suits as the result of its sale of hundreds of thousands of silicone breast implants.  In 1990, the FDA demanded that silicone implants be removed from the market.  Since that time, manufacturers and medical researchers alike have sought to produce better, more stable products.  However the history of silicon breast implants has created a number of widely believed, demonstrably false beliefs:

1. Dow Corning’s silicon breast implants caused massive health problems.

Dow Corning’s implants proved to be a health hazard to a selective number of recipients.  The reason that Dow Corning suffered the enormous liability consequences in court is primarily because they covered up information regarding their product’s potential for inducing health problems.

2. Silicon breast implants cause cancer.

Despite the massive amount of research done on silicone implants, there has been no definitive indication that the introduction of silicone implants increases the risk of cancer.  That is why they are back on the market, after the FDA banned them in the early nineties.

3. Breast implants are supposed to last a lifetime.

This has not proven to be the case, despite early claims to the contrary by physicians and manufacturers.  Saline filled implants tend to rupture more commonly and earlier than silicon implants.  However silicon implants do wear out, and today a person who opts for silicon implants can expect to have similar surgery ten to fifteen years later, to replace and perhaps reposition the implant.

4. A ruptured silicon breast implant causes serious side effects.

Not necessarily, and not usually.  A ruptured saline implant is instantly noticeable because it loses all shape as it drains.  Salt water isn’t going to do much harm, however.  Silicon ruptures are sometimes not noticeable at all, since the silicon gel is too thick to migrate within the body.  Better implant casings and thicker gel has led to a much more stable product.
 
5. Breast augmentation through implants may have a desirable effect but remain a risky venture.

Over 325,000 women undergo the procedure every year in this country.  Breast augmentation and reconstruction remain the third most popular cosmetic surgery procedure.  Manufacturers have improved their products and have passed them through rigorous FDA clinical trials. Most important, good cosmetic surgeons provide thorough explanations to their patients of the potential for side effects and corrective procedures.