Breast Implant Update

A lot has changed over the past year in the world of cosmetic breast implant surgery. The types of breast implants that I recommend to my Seattle area breast augmentation patients have changed. Our current recommendation for all cosmetic breast implant patients is the Allergan smooth, round cohesive silicone gel implant. This type of breast implant has been available in the USA since 2008 and is an FDA approved medical device.

The reason why this discussion is important is because over in Europe, and other parts of the world, the TEXTURED silicone implant has been pulled off of the market due to concerns about a rare lymphoma called ALCL (atypical large cell lymphoma). ALCL has been associated with TEXTURED silicone and saline implants. To date, the smooth silicone implant that we continue to use for our patients has NOT been associated with ALCL.

This move, by France’s National Agency for Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), banned the use of two textured implants produced by Allergan, which is an American company. The rest of the European market quickly followed suit.

As a response to the European removal of the textured silicone implant from its list of approved medical devices, Allergan withdrew its ‘Biocell’ textured silicone breast implants from the US market. To date, the other two manufacturers of textures silicone breast implants in the USA, Mentor and Sientra, have kept their textured silicone breast implants on the market.

The bottom line: I continue to use smooth, round silicone implants produced by Allergan in my cosmetic breast augmentation patients. I believe these implants are safe and very durable. I have patients with over twelve years of longevity with this type of implant.

Come see me in Seattle at Sound Plastic Surgery to discuss your breast augmentation options.