THE PREVALENCE OF WOMEN WITH BREAST IMPLANTS IN THE UNITED-STATES - 1989

Most estimates of the number of women with breast implants appear to b e extrapolations of industry or clinical data. While both provide valu able information, the former about the total number of devices ever pr oduced or sold and the latter about the cumulative number of surgeries performed, neither can be used to directly estimate the prevalence of women with silicone gel or saline implants. In 1989, Market Facts, In c., conducted a mail survey of 40,000 households chosen as representat ive of the population of the United States and received responses from 70.7%. Overall, the prevalence was 8.08 per 1,000 women with about 60 % of the devices reportedly implanted for cosmetic reasons. The proced ure was more common among Whites of the higher socio-economic classes. Based upon the results of this survey, the total number of US women i n 1989 with breast implants was estimated to be 815,700 (95% confidenc e interval: 715,757-924,729).