implantsAn updated FDA analysis on the safety of silicone breast implants found that the products are not associated with the development of connective tissue diseases, breast cancer or reproductive problems. However, the FDA did stress that complications resulting from silicone breast implants leads at least 20 percent of augmentation patients to undergo revision surgery within 10 years of their primary operation.

Although breast implants do not pose serious health risks to patients, they can result in unpleasant complications that result in the need for breast implant removal or replacement surgery. Some common complications that result from silicone implants include:

  • Hardening of the breasts (capsular contracture)
  • Rupture
  • Wrinkling of the implant
  • Shifting of position
  • Scarring
  • Silicone leak
  • Pain
  • Infection
  • Shrinkage of the implant
  • Unsightly appearance

The FDA stressed that women who are thinking about getting breast implants should seriously consider the risks associated with these devices. The agency estimates that 20 to 40 percent of women undergoing breast augmentation with implants undergo revision surgery in eight to 10 years, while 40 to 70 percent of women getting implants for breast reconstruction have them removed within that same time period.

"Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer a woman has silicone gel-filled breast implants, the more likely she is to experience complications," an FDA spokesperson said.

The FDA recommends that long-term studies with larger groups of participants be conducted in order to further investigate the safety of silicone breast implants. The agency also advises patients with silicone breast implants to undergo regular MRIs to check for ruptures or other problems.

Earlier this year, the FDA reported a possible link between anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and breast implants. ALCL of the breast is a rare type of cancer that is diagnosed in three out of 100 million women each year, according to the Mayo Clinic. The FDA is currently investigating the reports of ALCL in women with breast implants to determine if the devices increase the risk of this type of cancer.