Breast Implants Q&A

80%

WORTH IT RATING

1,009 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Implants Cost: $6,000

Learn about Breast Implants

4,932 people and 832 doctors are talking about Breast Implants

Get Free Email Updates

Do Silicone Breast Implants Cause Autoimmune Disorders?

asked 2 years ago by zinia in india
Latest answer by David L. Mobley, MD
Question viewed 3,224 times
Tags: breasts, female, silicone implant, autoimmune disease, causes

I would want to undergo a breast augmentation and the doctor wants to use silicon gel implants. I am a bit worried about the longevity of the implants and about autoimmunity issues which might occur after surgery. Could you please answer my queries? Thanks.

13 answers to Do Silicone Breast Implants Cause Autoimmune Disorders?

Silcone implants and autoimmune disease

This has been a majopr concern in the past. However, many more recent studies have not demonstrated any link between autoimmune disease and silicon implants. This does not mean that they will not form together but more likely that they are not causally related.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Silicone Implants Don't Cause Autoimmune Disorders But:

The short answer to your question is no! Silicone implants have never been associated with autoimmune disorders by a proper study published in a reputable journal. In fact many studies have now been done by investigators who were looking for an association and none has been found. Many of these investigators probably had a bias toward proving there was an association, but could find none. So don't worry about autoimmune disorders. They just aren't going to happen, at least because of your... more

David L. Mobley, MD
Sarasota Plastic Surgeon

sarasotaplasticsurgery.com

The safety of silicone gel breast implants

Let's cut through it all: no study published in a proper medical journal has shown any association - let alone causation - between silicone gel filled breast implants and any systemic disease. None. Period. BUT, as some skpetics would argue, the study sizes were never large enough to prove the absence of any risk. Of course, that argument could be levied against any study...if something happens 1 in 100,000 times and you only studied 10,000 people, you wouldn't expected to see it...even if yo more

Steven Teitelbaum, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Silicone Breast Implants and Autoimmune Disorders

After 14 years of studies it has very well been proven that silicone implants do not cause autoimmune disorders. So you may rest assured, as the FDA released the use of silicone implants to the public in 2006. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Longevity of silicone breast implants

Silicone implants can last a lifetime! However, the current rupture rate is about 1%/year cumulative. So, you will most likely need to replace them at one point in the future. Also, three very well run studies have proven that your risk of getting an autoimmune disease with silicone implants is the same as the general population. The FDA also approved the use of silicone implants for cosmetic surgery several years ago, so you can feel safe in your decision to get silicone breast... more

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.BaltimorePlasticSurgery.com

NO

In 1992 the implants were pulled from the market due to health concerns including autoimmune. They were re-released for use in the general public in 2006 after extensive study. The results are that they do not cause autoimmune disease. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Silicone implants and autoimmune disorders

NO, there has been extensive prospective randomized studies showing that there is no increased risk of developing autoimmune disorders when you have silicone gel implants.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

The institute of medicine report and the peace of mind concept

One of the main issues that the institute of medicine report addressed in 1999 is the relationship between silicone implants and autoimmune diseases. This is the actual language of the report published by the National Academies Press” The committee concludes that there is insufficient evidence to support an association of silicone breast implants with defined connective tissue disease. That is, given the repeated finding of no elevated risk, the evidence supports the conclusion that... more

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Silicone breast implants causing autoimmune disorders

Hello Zinia, Had you asked this question in 1991 - we would not have had a good answer for you. But, in the almost 20 years that followed, hundreds of studies have proven the silicone gel implants do NOT cause autoimmune disease. Period. No more so than any other implant does. (Personally, I think it is a national embarrassment that breast implants have been the MOST studied and scrutinized device in medical history; more than pacemakers, defibrillators, hip and knee joints etc. Are breast... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

SIlicone Gel Does Not cause Autoimmune Disease

Women with silicone implants have developed autoimmune disease, but an equal number of women with the same age and health status without implants also develop the disease. So, as mentioned already, there is no proven link between silicone and the development of autoimmune diseases. Silicone is used in a wide variety of implanted medical devices and has proven safe over many years. The breast implant crisis of the early 1990s was a legal fiasco, not a medical one.

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

No connection between silicone imp[lants and autoimmune diseases

In the world medical literature there's no cause and effect connection between silicone implants and autoimmune diseases. If you have psychological fear about this, then you should not undergo breast augmentation. Remember, even saline implants have a silicone shell. Silicone or saline, no implants last forever. I tell all my patients who come in for augmentation, that this is not a one time procedure for the rest of your life.Effects of pregnancy, aging, capsular contracture, rupture of... more

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Silicone & Autoimmune Diseases

Several studies were performed following FDA removal of silicone implants in the early 90's. None of these showed a scientific connection between the implants and these various diseases. I am comfortable with my pt's using silicone, but this is a decision you must make with your surgeon.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Silicone breast implants safety

Dear Zinia This is a question I am asked day in, day out. The silicone implants that were removed from the market in 1992 were a liquid silicone implant. When these leaked or ruptured the liquid silicone could get out into the tissues and cause local problems. The new implants are a silicone gel and very sticky or cohesive. If the implant ruptures for some reason the gel stays in the implant and does not enter the tissues. As Far as autoimmune disease, this was studied by the FDA for over 14... more