On November 17, 2006 the FDA finally approved silicone breast implants for breast augmentation. This was certainly a momentous day for breast augmentation surgery as it allows for women to have this important option when they consider breast enhancement surgery. Certainly there is a lot to talk about regarding the pros and cons of breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants – much that is beyond the scope of this short blog entry.

All the while that silicone implants have been banned in the United States for cosmetic breast augmentation, they still have been used widely throughout the world, and even were used routinely in the United States for breast reconstruction surgery. Just as automobiles have advanced dramatically in the past 15-20 years, so have silicone breast implants. Now we have a chance for our cosmetic patients to benefit from the knowledge and technical improvements gained in those years.