Everything You Wanted To Know About Breast Augmentation But Were Afraid to Ask
Breast augmentation was the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure among women in 2008 with 355,671 undergoing the operation in that year (Source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery).
Physicians of all specialties have a general knowledge of the storied history of breast implants in America, and this posting is to give those in the healthcare field an update on this very popular surgical procedure and medical device.
Problems with the earlier generation silicone gel implants were that they had a thick, unnaturally stiff shell, a high rate of gel bleed, and an unacceptably high incidence of capsular contracture (up to 70%). Third generation implants, from the mid-1980s forward until today, utilize a multi-layer barrier shell to decrease gel bleed and are filled with a thicker, more cohesive gel to reduce potential leakage. These implants, termed “responsive gels,” have proven high rates of safety and efficacy, and were re-approved for general use with conditions by the United States FDA in November 2006. The two main implant manufacturers which provide plastic surgeons and patients with well-studied, safe FDA-approved breast implants for their patients in the United States are Mentor (Santa Barbara, CA) and Allergan Corporation (Irvine, CA).
