Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Why Were Silicone Implants Banned?

If you've been following the news, you probably know that silicone breast implants were once banned in the US. A few years ago, however, they were re-approved by the FDA for the market. Are silicone implants really that dangerous?

The reason they were banned in the 90's was that they were believed to cause health problems. Some doctors felt that breast implants were linked to cancer, immune system problems and degenerative diseases such as lupus. The fear became so serious that silicone implants were taken off the market until more research could be done.

Bureaucracy works slowly, and even after studies were done, it took years before silicone implants were back on the market. It also didn't help that Washington is full of anti-implant lobbyists. Implants were cleared of any wrong-doing; no link was found. For some folks, fears about silicone implants' safety still linger.

If there is a risk, why do so many women choose silicone? Silicone implants are more popular than saline implants because they simply look and feel more natural. Saline implants are harder and make you look more top-heavy instead of natural.

Saline implants have been proven to be safe, but if you are still concerned about it, talk to your plastic surgeon. If you're thinking about getting implants, check out silicone and saline, and decide which feels the most natural for you.

For more information about the safety of saline or silicone gel breast implants, Houston breast augmentation specialist, Dr. Basu can answer your questions.

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