Breast augmentation now number one cosmetic procedure in US
Breast augmentation is now the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the USA, according to new statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Over 355,000 breast augmentations were performed last year, ensuring that the operation overtook liposuction as the number one cosmetic surgery of choice for Americans.
In the wake of the new figures, experts have highlighted that it has only been two years since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed doctors to use silicone breast implants in breast surgery procedures, after taking them off the market in 1991.
Over a decade of dedicated study and research to prove the safety of silicone implants led the FDA to approve them for use in breast augmentation patients over the age of 22 and breast reconstruction patients of any age in 2006.
Dr Paul LoVerme, a New Jersey-based cosmetic plastic surgeon, said: “Silicone implants were taken off the market with some allegations that over the last 14 years have not provided to be true. There really is no greater risk to women with silicone implants than there is with saline implants, but there are some differences.”
Many cosmetic surgeons, including Dr LoVerme, have highlighted that silicone breast implants look and feel more natural than saline implants. What’s more, clinics that offer both saline and silicone implants to breast surgery patients are providing greater choice.
Women considering breast augmentation surgery are encouraged to educate themselves on the benefits of both types of implants and to consult their surgeon for advice before making a final decision.
Tags: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Breast Augmentation, breast surgery, cosmetic surgery, Liposuction, silicone implants, USA