Are implants safe?

Whether breast implants are safe depends on who you talk to and what you read.

There are stories of healthy women, many in their 20s and 30s, who became ill, often disabled, with autoimmune problems after getting implants.

Silicone gel implants cause the most concern, though there are people like Long who have serious problems after getting saline.

"I think, generally, saline implants are a safer choice, but they're not a safe choice, because some women will have problems," Zuckerman said.

Plastic surgeon Young implants both silicone gel and saline and believes they're safe.

"There's no good evidence to support (they're unsafe)," he said. "I don't see anything to suggest that's the case, and it's been studied to death. There have been over 20 epidemiological studies to date, and none have shown a link."

Zuckerman disagrees. Most studies — many funded by manufacturers — studied women with implants less than five years, she said, and most problems take longer to appear.

"There have been more than 20 studies, and they have not shown a link. That's true," Zuckerman said. "The best studies — the ones that studied women who had implants for at least six years — and those studies done by government scientists — who are the ones studying women with implants for at least six years — have shown problems."

According to the FDA, implants will not last a lifetime and will likely need to be replaced at least once. Many changes from implants, such as stretching, can't be undone.

And local complications — breast pain, hardening of scar tissue, rupture and deflation — occur often enough to be a concern, the FDA reports.
Long said her board-certified surgeon never discussed risks.

"They said the only time I'd have to get them replaced is if I wanted to go bigger, if I wanted to get silicone gel implants. When you hear that, that pretty much knocks out a lot of questions."
Long said she was too young to get the procedure her parents were against.

The implants cost $4,500, of which she still has $1,300 left to pay. Removal cost her parents $6,400.

Long thought herself bottom-heavy. She was a B cup before surgery and a D cup after implant removal. "I didn't know (my breasts) were going to develop into my 20s," Long said. "If I'd known that, I would have waited. Definitely. I just thought, the FDA has approved for women 18 and over."

Zuckerman applauds ASPS' recent statement that implants for aesthetic reasons only shouldn't be done on women under 18. "We think, really, they shouldn't do it on anyone under 21, because they're still growing. ... It's a step in the right direction."

Risks and long-term considerations are "about a 45-minute discussion," said Dr. Michael Harl with The Center for Plastic Surgery at Ferrell-Duncan Clinic.

"That's one thing I really emphasize. ... You have to view breast augmentation as a maintenance program," Harl said. "Breast implants are man-made and will fail at some point. ... There are some women walking around with them for 20 years, but I think that's the exception."
He believes implants are safe.

"I think the FDA studies have been pretty conclusive about that," Harl said.

Simmons, whose implants were done by Harl, said she was told she'd likely face re-operations. "You don't think about getting implants at 50 or 60," Simmons said. "I wonder how that'll go."

Without any complications so far, she's thrilled.
"I don't regret it at all. ... I would recommend it."