Our Response to the FDA’s Recent Breast Implant Statement

A recent report by the FDA has found that silicone breast implants are safe and effective when used as labeled for women over the age of 22 for breast augmentation and for all women in breast reconstruction. However, the FDA has stated that one out of five women will need to have their implants replaced or removed within this timeframe (or one in two for patients with implants for breast reconstruction). Click here to read more.

We at Belcara Health are committed to providing the finest medical services in a safe environment and accept the FDA findings that breast implants are not lifetime devices. We also agree with the FDA’s findings that most women (80%) will not need to have their silicone breast implants removed within 10 years.

However, we still believe that more research is needed by the FDA. Many of our patients at our practice have had silicone implants for more than 10 years without any problems and we want to stress that every individual and circumstance is different. There are other reasons for a patient needing to have an implant removed unrelated to the health of the implant.

Personally, in my own experience of performing thousands of breast procedures over the past 20 years, less than 5% of women will require removal or replacement of silicone breast implants within 10 years.

We at Belcara Health continue to encourage women with implants to maintain their regular breast exams, both at home and with their doctors, and to contact us at Belcara Health if they have any questions.”

-Dr. Michael D. Cohen
Nationally-recognized breast surgeon and board-certified plastic surgeon
Medical Director, Belcara Health