SILICONE implants may soon be back in fashion for US women, 14 years after they were banned amid fears that they triggered connective tissue diseases and other problems.
鈥淪ilicone implants were banned 14 years ago amid fears they caused disease鈥�
On 17 November, two Californian companies, Allergan of Irvine, (formerly Inamed) and Mentor of Santa Barbara, got approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market the devices, which are considered to look and feel more natural than saline implants. 鈥淚t鈥檚 overdue,鈥� says Leroy Young, a plastic surgeon in St Louis, Missouri. The science shows that the issues behind the ban are not a problem, he says.
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However, it is a qualified approval. Each firm must follow 40,000 women with implants for 10 years, looking for potential complications ranging from suicide to cancer to effects on breastfeeding and the women鈥檚 children. They must also track every implant sold, conduct lab studies of implants that rupture and decide how to label them to better communicate any risks.
