Other Concerns—Breast Implants on Teens

In addition to the safety issues that I mentioned earlier, there is concern about the growing use of breast implant among adolescents. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 333,000 adolescents 18 years of age or younger underwent plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures in 2005, and most of the procedures were breast augmentation.

Breast implant is now a trend among teens across the globe. Enough with a new wardrobe, the latest computers, and/or the newest car model; they now want breast implants. And unfortunately a lot of them are getting it; thus, raising concerns even to the authorities. According to an article by Saul Hudson, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez had to step down against giving teenagers breast implants as any type of gift. He calls it the “ultimate degeneration,” which I totally agree. There is already a great number of risks involved with breast implants, now lets add breast implant on patients whose bodies haven’t even matured yet. There are no legal restriction on breast implant procedures on American teens; however the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) does recommend it against women under age of 18.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN24250042

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/public_education/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=17849

FDA and Breast Implants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed silicone breast implants in 1992 because of insufficient proof for safety presented by the implant manufacturers. However, due to the public need for implants (mainly from breast reconstruction patients), the FDA allowed some companies to continue research on the use of silicone implants for breast reconstruction and revision patients. Between 1992 and 2005, silicone breast implants were used for patients enrolled in investigational studies, reconstructive patients, and could not be marketed commercially to the general public. The United States was one of the few countries during this time period in which silicone breast implants could not be marketed commercially. Today however, silicone breast implants are back on the market.

According to an article posted by the CNN News, the FDA approved silicone implants manufactured by Inamed Aesthetics, now a part of Allergan, and Mentor for breast reconstruction and augmentation in women of all ages (http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/11/17/implants/index.html) . Apparently the as M.D.Director Daniel Schultz says, “FDA has reviewed an extensive amount of data from clinical trials of women studied for up to four years, as well as a wealth of other information to determine the benefits and risks of these products.” (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/fda_silicone.html)