There's certainly no shortage of discussion about silicone gel-filled breast implants. In fact, they are one of the most studied medical devices in history. Here's a closer look at the evolution of silicone gel-filled breast implants, and why they might be an option you wish to consider.
Silicones are a family of chemical compounds. They are made from silicon, a naturally occurring element found in sand, quartz and rock. Next to oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the earth's crust and becomes silicone when it is combined with oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. Depending on the arrangement of the molecules, silicones can be manufactured in a variety of forms including oils, gels and solids.
Silicones have been part of the consumer industry for over 50 years. Because they can be manufactured in various ways, silicones appear in a wide variety of products that most of us use everyday. Hairsprays, suntan lotions and moisturizing creams are just some of the consumer products that contain one form of silicone called dimethicone.
Medical devices utilizing silicone include artificial joints, catheters, drainage systems, facial implants, tissue expanders and silicone breast implants. Silicone products have been shown to be biocompatible, reliable, flexible and easy to sterilize, making them an ideal choice for both implantable and non-implantable medical devices.
For over 25 years, silicone gel-filled breast implants have been used consistently in more than 60 countries. This includes continuous use in the United States for breast reconstruction surgery since 1992 (except for a brief period during that year) under clinical study protocols. Today, when given a choice, 9 out of 10 women worldwide, outside of the U.S., choose silicone gel filler. Furthermore, saline-filled implants have always used an FDA-approved silicone shell.
In 1992, the FDA called for a voluntary delay in the use of silicone gel-filled breast implants until new safety information could be thoroughly reviewed by the FDA's advisory panel. Seven years later, the FDA allowed the use of silicone gel-filled breast implants in Allergan's Core Clinical Study to assess their safety and effectiveness.
Following an extensive review of relevant background information and clinical studies, the FDA recently approved silicone gel-filled implants for breast augmentation for women at least 22 years of age, and for reconstruction.
What many people do not realize is that even during the moratorium, silicone gel-filled breast implants were still available to women who were diagnosed with cancer and underwent breast reconstruction, in clinical studies (except for a short time in 1992).
Further study
Allergan is committed to the long-term safety of our breast implants. Our Breast Implant Follow-up Studies (BIFS) allow us to track the long-term safety of our products. When complete, over 40,000 women will have participated in this far-reaching study over the course of 10 years.
Author Resource:-
Dave Stringham, the President of LookingYourBest.com writes about plastic surgery in Irvine, California and plastic surgery procedures like irvine silicone implants, nose job, tummy tuck, liposuction, arm lift, eyelid surgery, and thigh lift.
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