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Breast Augmentation

Silicone Implants are Back

Many plastic surgeons whom have been asked about silicone implants say that they expect to see more patients request silicone implants for breast augmentation.

Nearly 75% of plastic surgeons stated in a recent survey that they expect some of their patients to request an exchange of their saline for the silicone implants. Many believe that this rate of exchange would be at least 3% and perhaps as high as 10% of the patients who have had breast augmentation with saline in the past.

There are patients that will probably need to change their saline implants for either implant failure or capsular contracture. Many of these patients will be offered a choice of replacement with either saline or silicone. In such cases, as much as 50% of patients may opt for silicone.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has been very pleased with the results of its recent survey about silicone implants. This survey, focusing on the recent reintroduction of silicone implants in the US market, has shown a very positive response for the future of silicone implants for breast augmentation patients.

As many as two thirds of patients may opt for silicone rather than saline in the next 2 years according to the ASPS members who participated in this survey.  Many surgeons believe that they will be performing more breast augmentations in the future because of the reintroduction of silicone breast implants. This increase may be as much as 25% according to this survey.

Although there has been an increase in the number of patients who request silicone breast implants, most surgeons who responded to this survey still believe that safety issues are still a major concern for patients requesting breast augmentation and poses a barrier to the choice of silicone.

Breast augmentation was the top cosmetic procedure according to the ASPS National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics.  The reintroduction of silicone to the list of choices for breast augmentation will most likely have a beneficial affect on the popularity of this procedure in the future. It will be however necessary for plastic surgeons to educate their patients about the importance of follow-up and adhere to the guidelines set by the ASPS and the Drug Enforcement Agency so that any potential problem with the new generation of implants could be promptly detected.