US lifts ban on silicone breast implants

A BAN on silicone breast implants in America has been reversed after 14 years by the regulatory Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after independent studies failed to find evidence that they caused tissue damage or cancer, writes Sarah Baxter.
Silicone gel Breast implants are considered to have a more natural look and feel than the salt water “balloons” that replaced them. Cosmetic surgeons expect them to become the top choice for the 300,000 American women a year who opt for breast enlargement.

The FDA took silicone breast implants for cosmetic surgery off the market in 1992, after questions were raised about how frequently they ruptured in the body and whether leaking silicone could cause disease.

Peter Dixon believes “the lifting of the US ban will remove any remaining doubts that women had about the safety of breast implants, and it confirms my position that women should be confident in their choice of breast implants.

The latest cohesive gel implants have always felt more natural than bags of water. The implants have a thicker shells thicker and they last longer.”

Dr Daniel Schulz of the (USA) FDA said there was “reasonable assurance” that silicone implants were “safe and effective”. But the agency warned that the implants did not last a lifetime and that women who had them would probably need surgery again.
Read a Press release.