The LA Times reports this week on continuing concerns with the use of silicone.
In the article, one surgeon in Dallas is quoted, saying:
In the last 14 years, I have removed implants from almost 1,000 women. I have found roughly 50% of their implants have ruptured within 10 years, and more than 70% have ruptured within 15 years. We are still not sure of all the places where the micro-droplets of silicone end up, though I have found it in lymph nodes.
Even the FDA web site indicates that implants are not permanent — this, by the way, was one of the more surprising discoveries to me as I started researching this procedure. The FDA even has a “Breast Implant Q& A” which answers a number of questions including “How long do breast implants last?“
One has to admit that with so much continuing controversy it begs the question of “what’s the price of beauty”?
I’ve been hunting for scholarly articles which track the incidence of resurgery comparing saline to silicone, but haven’t found any yet. The best I’ve come up with so far is from breastimplants411.com where Dr. Kim a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon discusses the issue.
One point Dr. Kim makes, which I’ve heard repeated by other surgeons, is that the modern silicone implants are a cohesive gel, and therefore less likely to leak even in the case of a rupture.
Ultimately, like so many other things in life, it’s a matter of weighing risk and reward.
I’d be interested in the thoughts of others…
