HOW SAFE ARE SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS

The Food and Drug Administration's recent decision to limit the use of silicone gel breast implants was surrounded by a great deal of mislea ding information in the popular press. This article outlines the most relevant information available in the literature on the most often rai sed safety issues, including the carcinogenicity of silicone, speculat ion on a possible connection between silicone and autoimmune disease, the significance of gel bleed, and the effect of implants on mammograp hy. In this attempt to better educate primary care physicians, we expl ain what is known about silicone gel breast implants so physicians can more wisely counsel their patients, who may be needlessly frightened by inaccuracies they have heard.