Silicone implants were first used for breast augmentation and reconstruction in 1962. The implants were extremely popular, but concern slowly started to develop regarding the health risks associated with them.
The Food and Drug Administration requires all medical products be safe before they can be used with the general public. This standard, however, was not in effect in 1962 when silicone implants came onto the market. The companies making the implants argued against regulation, but serious health risks associated with silicone exposure when implants ruptured ultimately led to the FDA stepping in and eventually banning their use.
Following the banning, there was a great debate about whether silicone implants were actually the cause of the health problems they were associated with. These problems included cancer, lupus, scarring, initiation of lumps and so on. After years of studies, the causal link has never been proven. In 2003, advisers to the FDA recommended that certain silicone implants be legalized, but the FDA refused. Obviously, that position has changed now.
Although silicone breast implants are back, they are not the exact products used before the ban. For instance, there are only two companies that are being authorized to sell them. Inamed Corporation is one and Mentor Corporation is the other. Both of these California companies have fought long and hard to lift the ban through lobbying, studies and improved implant designs.
Are silicone breast implants the way to go if you are considering breast augmentation? It is a difficult question to answer. The lifting of the ban does not so much suggest the implants are safe as it suggests that no scientific proof exists linking them to any particular health problem. Obviously, you should consult with a plastic surgeon to obtain as much professional advice as you can before making a choice.
