Recently, the Daily Cancer News published an article about breast implant safety, including common myths, a history of the safety debate, and possible implant complications.
Common brest implant myths mentioned in the article include:
- Breast implants cause cancer
- Breast implants cause other diseases
- Breast implants make breast-feeding hazardous
These myths have all been shown to be false according to the article.
The debate over the safety of silicone breast implants began during the 1980s, when medical journals began to pose connections between silicone implants and such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, scleroderma, and lupus. In 1992, the FDA banned the use of silicone implants (except in certain urgent-need situations) until further research on their side effects could be studied.
In 1999, a panel of 13 scientists reviewed all existing information on silicone implant safety and found no direct causal connection between them and disease. In 2006, the FDA lifted the ban on silicone implants.
Though silicone implants are the popular choice for breast augmentation due to their more natural look and feel than saline implants can offer, the risk of rupture is still a concern. Some recommend women with silicone implants undergo routine screenings to check for implant ruptures.
Another common complication of both saline and silicone implants is capsular contracture, a condition where scar tissue surrounds the implant which can cause pain, hardening and distortion of shape. Revision surgery can be performed to correct this condition.
For more information on breast augmentation, Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Ambe offers great information on reasons for seeking breast augmentation, what to expect from your recovery and results, and an array of before and after photos on his website.
