Breast Implants

Dr. Hermann: Silicone breast implants were taken off the market in the late 1990s. However, after a very thorough investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, it was found that the breast implants are safe. Although there certainly were some issues that could be improved upon. When silicone breast implants were put back on the market around 2001, those issues were addressed. The silicone implants of the '70s, '80s, and '90s were liquid silicone. This did present a couple problems. For one, if the shell ruptured, that liquid silicone would leak out and would irritate the inside of the tissues around the breast. Also, over time, the silicone molecules, because they were liquid, could defuse through the shell which would also cause irritation. Nowadays, the silicone implants are not liquid. They are a gel. The gummy bear implants as they are called. The improvements in the overall shell of the implant, as well as the improvement in the silicone material, have eliminated the problems that silicone implants saw in the '80s and '90s. When silicone implants were released back onto the market, they were at first asked to be examined with MRIs every couple years. We no longer do that because all of those studies were normal. Likewise, implants were recommended to be replaced every 10 years. We no longer do that because after 10 years those implants are still doing well. Silicone implants are very safe. I wouldn't be in this business and doing them if I thought otherwise. Narrator: If you or someone you know is in search of a high-quality plastic surgeon, call our office today.