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America Is Too Glib About Breast Implants

If you’ve commuted in an American city in the past decade, you’ve probably seen some kind of cheeky ad for affordable, accessible breast implants. A young woman comparing tangerines with grapefruits has greeted subway riders in New York City for the past several years. A giant close-up of cleavage promising “a gift you can both enjoy” loomed over the streets of one Utah town in 2007. Almost a decade later, a California billboard reminded women that size matters.

Boob jobs have been ubiquitous in American popular culture since the 1980s, when laws changed to allow plastic surgeons to advertise and credit cards became widely available. But safety concerns have dogged the procedure…

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 Breast implant removal is more popular than ever. Why?

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Articles of Interest

Breast Implants: What You Should Know

The right plastic surgeon can help you choose the implants that are most likely to give you the outcome you want. They can also explain the risks of different types of implants, to help you make a fully informed choice. The most recent data from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) shows that 87% of breast implant surgeries today use silicone implants.

Can breast implants make you sick?

While not a formal diagnosis, an autoimmune dysfunction known as breast implant illness has gained traction

Goodbye silicone? A new era of breast reconstruction is on the horizon

Tissue engineered implants, however, are not the only recent innovations in the field. Many groups are working on perfecting a reconstruction technique using injections of the person’s own fat, boosted with extra stem cells to help the tissue survive. Medical professionals are still debating the safety and how the breasts hold up long term. In contrast to the new implants, the procedure might have to be done several times.

The Bizarre And Painful History of Breast Implants

Before the days of saline and silicone, doctors would try inserting pretty much anything. As this horrifying history of breast implants shows, that didn’t always work out.

Why This Feminist Loves Her Breast Implants

Recently I got a new set of breast implants. I had the first pair for nearly two decades, and they needed to be replaced. I’ve been reckoning with my reasons for getting fake boobs in the first place. Most of us don’t talk about implants with the people who never see us naked. But breast augmentation has risen more than 48 percent since 2000. It’s the No. 1 most-requested surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States, with nearly 314,000 performed in 2018.

All Natural: Why Breasts are the Key to the Future of Regenerative Medicine

The fact is, the scientific and regulatory hurdles to getting Cytori’s cells into clinical use will be easier to clear for breasts than for other tissue: Breasts simply aren’t as necessary as other organs, so the bar for proving to regulators that the technology works will be lower. It’s also a booming market. In 2009, women forked over $964 million to plastic surgeons for breast augmentation, which edges out nose jobs as the most commonly performed plastic surgery in the US.

Are Breast Implants and Genital Mutilation the Same Thing?

Mollman notes the parallels between genital mutilation in foreign countries and breast implants here – the very real possibility of health complications, the fact that both are “carried out solely to satisfy stereotyped notions of what a women could or should be.” Mollman’s overall point is a good one but the parallel has its limitations.

Breast Implants and Mammograms

“It is true that implants can make visibility of breast tissue more difficult during a standard mammogram. However, augmented women can be effectively screened for cancer, they just require additional views called ‘implant displacement views.’”

Breast Implants May Be Linked to Additional Cancers, F.D.A. Warns

On rare occasions, new cancers have been found in women with both textured and smooth implants, filled with saline or silicone, federal health officials said.

Breast Implants Undergo Reconstruction

Dr. Hamas has been working on his product since 1992, shortly after the moratorium on silicone. The idea was to figure out a way to keep the saline from sloshing around like a whiskey sour. After much trial and error, he created a series of implant shells nested together, like Russian dolls, and two separate chambers that hold saline. This internal structure limited the saline’s ability to move, while supporting the implant edges to reduce wrinkling.

Breast Implants: Everything You Need to Know

There are three types of implants: saline, silicone, and “gummy bear.” Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater. They can be prefilled or filled at the time of surgery. Silicone implants are prefilled with silicon gel and come in a variety of shapes and degrees of firmness. They feel more like natural breast tissue than saline does. “Gummy bear” implants are also filled with silicone gel, but the gel is more cohesive, so the implants are thicker and firmer than traditional silicone implants.

Breast Implants: Saline or Silicone?

Saline implants have been around for many years. They are popular because they are considered to be “safer,” with the reasoning that the solution within the shell of the implant is merely water and would absorbed by the body if a leak or rupture occurred.

Breast implants: the first 50 years

It's estimated between 5 and 10 million women worldwide have had the surgery, many for cosmetic reasons, and a significant proportion for reconstruction following a mastectomy, or for transsexual people transitioning from male to female. But concern around them has never abated, with the most recent row being one of the most disturbing, and vexed. In 2010, after concerns about ruptures in implants made by French company Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP), it emerged the company had been filling them not with the medical-grade silicone that had won them a CE mark, and the right to sell them in Europe – but industrial-grade silicone, otherwise used to make mattresses.

Breathless: Why Are Breast Implants More Popular Than Ever?

Breast implants are bigger than ever. They remain the number one cosmetic surgery in the United States—more popular than nose jobs and liposuction. Even my favorite small-chested bombshells are going under the knife: Iggy Azalea, and allegedly Kate Hudson, too. There’s even ads for breast implants on the New York subway, with the tagline “dream big.” As if getting implants were as casual as buying toothpaste.

Facts About Breast Implants

All breast implants will eventually break, but it is not known how many years the breast implants that are currently on the market will last. Studies of silicone breast implants suggest that most implants last seven to 12 years, but some break during the first few months or years, while others last more than 15 years.

FDA wants women to understand the risks and benefits related to breast implants

To quickly identify and treat this problem before it becomes a health risk, the FDA recommends that women with silicone implants be screened for leaks every two years. Officials initially recommended that this be done using MRI. While this strategy was certainly effective in identifying breast implant rupture, many women didn't adhere to the recommendation. Not only was it costly — up to $2,000 out of pocket for each MRI scan — but for some women, MRI scans were also a source of anxiety, says Dr. Pusic. The FDA now recommends an easier, cheaper alternative — ultrasound examinations. Ultrasound can be used for routine surveillance, and potential problems, confirmed using MRI.

How Breast Implants Have Evolved in the Last 30 Years

Advances in technology and increased pop culture visibility have changed the way Americans view breast augmentation. Here, a brief look at the past, present, and future of the most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States.

If I Get Breast Implants Too Big Will I Tip Over?

Probably not. But, bigger is better, at least that is the American way of life. We drive big cars, we live in big houses, we eat supersized meals and we drink big gulps sitting in front of a big screen TV.

Implants Are Back, and So Is Debate

The F.D.A., criticized by some health advocates for allowing the silicone implants back onto the market, said it would monitor whether its recommendations were being followed.

Information for Women About the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants

For many years, women had complained about the lack of information they received before implant surgery. Many said they had received no data on possible complications, pain, and the chance that the implant would not last forever. This lack of information was due, in part, to the fact that silicone breast implants were widely used before there was any requirement for research and documentation of the safety and effectiveness of medical devices.

Is It Just Me, or Does It Seem Like Every Woman in America Is Getting Breast Implants?

Celebs have been getting breast implants for ages, of course (well, since Baywatch, anyway). But there was a lull in the last decade (or so it seemed) filled by "I'm happy with my natural size" sentiment. And then, suddenly, it seems we've hit another breast implant wave. Case in point: The star I thought would never let a surgeon touch her chest has reportedly caved ...

I’m All Natural — With Breast Implants

I smile because my breasts remind me of how far I’ve come — how I grew from a flat chested spirit to a voluptuous one. Not to mention, I love my curves.

More Reports Surface Linking Textured Breast Implants with Cancer

As the popularity of breast augmentation has climbed, so have the number of health concerns related to breast implants themselves—specifically, textured breast implants, which have been definitively linked to a form of lymphoma called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

Once Banned, Silicone Breast Implants Make a Comeback

Surgeons and patients say silicone implants look and feel more like natural breasts. But the FDA banned their use in cosmetic procedures in 1992 after complaints that the devices ruptured—and among concerns that they could lead to health problems, including connective-tissue diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients Continue to Report Problems With Breast Implants

Nearly three decades after the FDA first pulled silicone breast implants off the U.S. market and then allowed some back on, women continue to report debilitating conditions to the agency. The FDA is revisiting the issue again this year and is grappling with efforts to study which issues are proven and which not proven. As if to underscore the imprecision, the panel members discussed whether they and the FDA can use existing registries of patients—or might have to rely on new registries not yet created—to understand how serious the scope of the women’s illnesses is.

PIP breast implant controversy shows we’ve learned nothing

The worldwide controversy around the safety of PIP (Poly Implant Prosthèse) breast implants has elicited different responses from governments, despite all of them seemingly acting on the same set of evidence. These responses illustrate how little we have learnt from the debate and worldwide litigation that raged around breast implants in the 1980s and 1990s.

Saline Versus Silicone Breast Implants: Is It Really a Dilemma?

My bias in favor of silicone implants primarily has to do with my unwavering commitment to creating natural appearing breast augmentation results. Silicone implants simply look and feel more natural than saline implants.

Saline vs. Silicone: New Twist on an Old Debate

Given our practice experience that saline implants commonly last twenty years or more, the choice boils down to best breast consistency (silicone) or the desire for maximum implant longevity with no need for MRI scans (saline). Baseline tissue volume and body habitus will otherwise favor one over the other.

Silicone vs. Saline Breast Implants – Which Is Better?

Both are approved by the FDA but which is better? Each has its own benefits and advantages. Each has its own potential liabilities and disadvantages. Neither is perfect. But both have their good points.

The Creepiest Crowdfunding Ever

My Free Implants solicits donations for plastic surgery. But implants are never really free.

The Evolution of Breast Implants

Breast augmentation remains one of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures in the United States and worldwide. Throughout the last few decades, the implants used for this procedure have undergone significant advancements, which has allowed surgeons to provide safer and more aesthetically pleasing outcomes.

The history and development of breast implants

Prior to the introduction of silicone implants by Cronin and Gerow in 1962, women sought breast augmentation through a variety of methods including injections of glycerine, autologous fat, ox cartilage, silicone oil and even snake venom, all of which carried high risk and morbidity. Autologous fat injections may have a role in filling simple small area contour defects, particularly of the upper pole in marginal breast ptosis.

The history and development of breast implants

Prior to the introduction of silicone implants by Cronin and Gerow in 1962, women sought breast augmentation through a variety of methods including injections of glycerine, autologous fat, ox cartilage, silicone oil and even snake venom, all of which carried high risk and morbidity. Autologous fat injections may have a role in filling simple small area contour defects, particularly of the upper pole in marginal breast ptosis.

The Messy History of Breast Implants

For this episode, the hosts talk about the intersection of gender and health in the court system through the history of breast implants. Starting with the first implant surgery to the current debates about the safety of implants, the hosts explore what counts as “scientific evidence” in the courtroom and our own cultural assumptions about breast implants and the women who choose to get them.

Venezuela Currency Bust Fuels Plastic Surgery Boom Boom

This country’s industrial capital was once known for steel and aluminum. Today, people come here for the silicone.

What My Breast Implants Taught Me About Class in America

What was unexpectedly freeing about my implants was a shift in what clothing I felt I could get away with. I imagine many women feel this way, albeit in the opposite direction: Suddenly they "fill out" standard clothing shapes they hadn't before. But after my implants, I looked cartoonish in my fancy dresses—those that fit, anyway. Their aura of classic charm was ruined by my body's inherent garishness.

What You Need to Know if You Have Breast Implants

Nearly every case of the rare cancer that has been linked to breast implants — anaplastic large-cell lymphoma — involves those with a textured surface, not a smooth one, and most implants in the United States are smooth.

Resources

4 Things to Know About Breast Implants

There are really only three types of implants on the market today in two shapes and textures. These include saline implants, silicone (cohesive gel) implants and “gummy bear” silicone (highly cohesive gel) implants. Each type has several different styles that may be useful for specific reasons. Making the best choice may depend on the patient’s anatomy, personal preferences and the desired outcome.

5 Things You May Not Know About Breast Implants

According to the FDA, if you get implants (silicone or saline), you will likely need additional surgery within 10 to 15 years due to rupture, other complications, or cosmetic funkiness (asymmetry, wrinkling, rippling, etc.)...

7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Breast Implants

Considering going under the knife? Here's what you should know first.

Breast Implant Safety Alliance

The mission of BISA is to raise awareness, optimize outcomes, and ensure informed consent for patients considering breast implant surgery. Modern, balanced information about breast implants.

Ten Questions You Always Wanted to Ask a Person with Breast Implants

Isn't it strange to have the same stuff in your body that baking molds, mouse pads, and Silly Putty are made of? No, not at all. I haven't for a single minute regretted my decision. I'm not afraid I'll be reduced to the 600 milliliters of silicone I carry around.

National Breast Implant Registry

The NBIR is a quality improvement initiative and safety surveillance registry that collects clinical, procedural and outcomes data at the time of operation and any subsequent reoperations for all U.S. patients receiving breast implants. We need everyone who performs breast implant procedures to participate in this very important initiative.

Breast Implant Advice

Welcome! Breast Implant Advice has been the premier go to website for all things breast augmentation related since 2010. Find the right surgeon, factual information relating to pre and post op care, even sign up for a ‘Surgery Buddy’ and much more.

BreastImplantInfo.org

This website is your most accurate source for information about breast implants so that you can make choices that are best for you. Unlike most breast implant websites, the information on our website is not paid for by plastic surgeons or breast implant makers who want you as customers.

Breastimplants4you.com

Thinking about breast augmentation with implants? You've come to the right place. The newly revamped Breastimplants4you.com is your one-stop resource for everything and anything related to your breast augmentation — the No.1 cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States.

My Breast Implant Story

Okay, so before you become quick to judge, me getting breast implants was not a vain decision, I was horribly flat chested, I couldn't even fill out a training bra.

MyFreeImplants.com

MyFreeImplants.com is a social funding company that provides the only no cost alternative to expensive cosmetic surgery loans. The service is a specialized social networking website that provides fundraising for women who have a strong desire to enhance their physical appearance through breast augmentation surgery, and donors who wish to make a difference in their lives.

Serene Breast Implant

Ordinary breast implants have a silicone outer shell and a single inner chamber filled with either silicone gel or saline. The Serene Structured Saline Breast Implant is engineered to control saline movement and reinforce implant edges, for a saline breast implant with the look and feel of silicone. Its design features: