Concern Still Lingers for Silicone Breast Implants Save

What do you tell your patients who are considering augmentation mammoplasty? Or who question the safety of prior implants?

The Annals of Internal Medicine have published a systematic analysis at 32 studies conducted from the 1990s onward. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1O2ALp7) 

Silicone breast implants have been around since the 1960s, but were removed from the market in 1992 over concerns of unexpected autoimmune risks, amongst others. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for a moratorium on silicone implants. After years of study and alternative implants these were reintroduced in 2005. But there continues to be concerns regarding long-range safety.

Although there was no clear evidence linking silicone breast implants to the risks of cancer, connective tissue diseases, multiple sclerosis, a few studies did find an association between the implants and rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and Raynaud's. The evidence was usually not specific to silicone gel implants, and studies were rarely adequately adjusted for potential confounders.

Hence, this report was inconclusive about any association between silicone gel implants and long-term health outcomes. Better evidence is needed.