Breast Enlargement in Boca Raton: 2 Years after FDA Approval of Silicone Implants

It's been almost 2 years since the FDA approved silicone-gel implants for use in breast augmentation procedures in women over the age of 22. Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Schuster discusses the increasing interest in silicone implants that he has noticed among breast augmentation patients at his Boca Raton practice.

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) November 20, 2008 -- In November 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of silicone-gel implants for breast enhancement procedures in women over the age of 22 after imposing a voluntary moratorium on an older silicone breast implant type in 1992. In the 2 years since silicone implants have been re-introduced to the market, Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Schuster (www.schusterplasticsurgery.com) has noticed a rising interest in silicone implants for women considering breast enlargement in Boca Raton.

Silicone filled breast implants were originally introduced in the 1960s and they were the first implants to be widely marketed for use in breast enhancement procedures. They came under scrutiny, however, amid concerns surrounding potential implant ruptures and the question of whether or not the silicone would be harmful if it leaked into the body. These concerns led the FDA to restrict the marketing and use of silicone implants in 1992, making saline-filled implants the only implant option available to most women for over a decade. In 2006, a new kind of silicone implant that is filled with cohesive silicone gel was approved by the FDA, ending the 14 year moratorium.
   
"Since the FDA's decision to allow the new cohesive silicone-gel implant in augmentation procedures, I have noticed as a plastic surgeon in the Boca Raton, Florida area that more women are choosing silicone over saline," says Dr. Schuster, who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. "Silicone and saline implants offer different safety advantages, and they differ from one another in terms of how they look and feel. I help each of my patients choose between the 2 implant types by explaining the differences between them and making a recommendation about which implant will best suit their breast enhancement goals."

The silicone-gel implants that were reintroduced to the market in 2006 are filled with gel that has been compared to the consistency of a gummy bear candy. The cohesiveness of this new type of gel makes a rupture very unlikely, and even if an implant does rupture, the silicone will not leak into the body. Many breast augmentation patients in Boca Raton choose silicone implants because they are often considered to look and feel more natural than saline implants.

Despite the fact that silicone implants are becoming more and more popular, saline implants are still an excellent choice and they offer a number of advantages. Many women, for example, are more comfortable with saline implants because they are filled with a salt-water solution that is harmless if it leaks into the body. Also, a saline implant rupture is in almost all cases easier to detect. One drawback of saline-filled implants is that they are more likely to show ripples in the implant through the skin, especially if the patient has only a small amount of natural breast tissue to cover the implant.

"What I tell my breast enlargement patients from Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach is that when it comes to silicone and saline implants, there is no right or wrong choice," adds Dr. Schuster. "What is most important is that the patient chooses an implant that is safe for her procedure and body type, and that she is comfortable with the way the implants are going to look and feel."

In addition to breast augmentation and other breast enhancement procedures, Dr. Schuster offers a full menu of plastic surgery options for the face and body. Many of his breast enhancement patients choose to combine their procedure with a body contouring procedure such as liposuction or tummy tuck to achieve a more complete makeover.

"Prior to the FDA's 2006 decision, the biggest choice breast augmentation patients had to make was what size implants they wanted," says Dr. Schuster. "Now, with the re-introduction of silicone-gel implants to the market and the advancements in plastic surgery technology that are being made every day, women can choose from a variety of implant types, sizes, and shapes. No matter what you're hoping to achieve with a breast enhancement procedure, there is an implant option to fit you and your plastic surgery goals."

Dr. Steven Schuster (www.schusterplasticsurgery.com) is a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs a full range of plastic surgery and medical spa treatments. Dr. Schuster's Boca Raton practice is conveniently located to serve the needs of men and women from West Palm Beach, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, and Palm Beach.He specializes in performing breast augmentation procedures, and he is dedicated to ensuring the safety and success of each procedure he offers.

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