Breast Implant Trends

Several current developments have come to the public’s attention recently regarding breast implants. The safety of breast implants has again made the news overseas and trends in breast implants here at home in the United states, are two topics that caught my eye. Safety first!

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the United Kingdom’s equivalent of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Recently there has been a plethora of press about the MHRA’s removal of the PIP breast implant from the market. The French made PIP implant was removed from the market after it was shown to contain non-surgical grade silicone never intended for medical use. Qualified surgeons had raised concerns about the rupture rate of the PIP implant as long ago as 2006. Finally the implants were taken off the market in 2010.

Not to worry, American women. The Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) has never been used by surgeons in the United States. In fact, the FDA had only approved two silicone breast implants until this year. In 2006 the FDA approved Allergan Natrelle implants and Mentor MemoryGel implants for breast augmentation after a long moratorium on silicone in the United States. The FDA created more stringent regulations for the approval of silicone breast implants. Check out the FDA history of silicone breast implant approval.

Meanwhile just this past March, another silicone implant was approved by the FDA for use in elective breast augmentation. On March 9th, the FDA news release stated that Sientra’s so called “Gummy Bear” implant was safe for breast augmentation. The CEO of Sientra. Hani Zeini, does not particularly approve of the nickname the implant has acquired. Zeini thinks the name trivializes the product. Some doctors believe this implant retains its shape better and ruptures less (theoretically a rupture would result in less leakage as well), because it is made of a high-strength cohesive silicone gel. The consistency and texture is similar to those of the candy bears. Other doctors believe that this implant, because it is “pre-shaped,” does not require as much surgical skill. Usually a surgeon fits the traditional round or tear drop shaped implant to your body him or herself.

Statistically, the most common breast size women have asked for when requesting breast augmentation has been a C cup. Lately however the trend may be moving towards smaller breasts. The social media that has been commenting on a New York times article from over a year ago seems to be in hot debate. Not only are these fashion and blog sites commenting on the pros and cons of a smaller cup size, but many of these sites are written by women who resent the media promoting one breast size or another. I have to agree with this. Women are beautiful with any breast size. When you choose to have a breast augmentation, or a breast reduction, for that matter, the reason should be to please yourself! Some women have wanted larger breasts for a variety of reasons for many years. Other women are unhappy with larger breasts for aesthetic or physical comfort or health reasons. In Hollywood, the real trend in fashionable breast size is using implants to enhance a woman’s natural beauty and body type to produce the very best result. I think this is a healthy attitude towards cosmetic surgery.

Call Melinda at 501-227-0707 for a consultation with me in order to find out about all your options.