Are PIP silicone gel breast implants safe?

In general, silicone gel breast implants are safe.  However, a French company, PIP, manufactured an implant that was available outside the United States which felt very soft, and was used by many plastic surgeons.  Now, it appears that this implant was filled with an industrial grade silicone (rather than medical grade), and has a very high rupture rate (as high as 11% rupture per year) when compared to the standard silicone gel implants approved for use in the United States (appx 1% rupture per year).  It is not fully known if the impurities of an industrial grade silicone could cause medical problems, but the consensus is that these implants should be replaced with standard silicone implants.  If you had your breast augmentation performed in France, England, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, or other countries, you should contact your doctor to determine the type of implant used, and if your implants should be changed to another implant.  

In California, we have some patients considering cosmetic surgery in other countries because it might be less expensive, but this decision, which could have lasting implications, must be made carefully.

Please check my website at www.prescottmd.com for more breast implant information.

Are Gummy Bear Implants Available in the US?

A Gummy bear implant is a new type of breast implant that is available outside of the United States, but currently has NOT been approved by the FDA for general use in the U.S.  We don’t know yet what advantages or disadvantages these implants will have compared to our current silicone gel implants, but it seems they may feel firmer, much like a gummy bear candy feels firmer than pudding.  

Plastic surgeons have been told for YEARS that this implant would be available "soon", but it still has not been approved.  When patients ask me if they should wait for this implant, I tell them we really don’t know if it will be better or not, and we certainly do not know when they will be available.  Over the last 25 years, I have seen many “new, better” implants come and go, so it is best to stay with the implants that we have approved today until we really have more information.  And for more information on breast implants, please visit my website at www.prescottmd.com

Do Breast Implants Cause Cancer?

After a scientific review of millions of patients, the FDA is examining a possible correlation between breast implants and a rare form of lymphoma (ALCL).  Only 60 cases were found in this large number of patients, but it was enough to spark interest and further study.  When counseling my patients, I emphasize this is NOT breast cancer, and this may not turn out to be a true correlation, but I will keep them posted.  No need to worry or lose sleep, but call me if they notice any unusual pain, swelling, or lumps (which they know to do anyway).  Dr. Prescott

Walnut Creek Breast Implants, Breast Augmentation

Follow this link to read Dr. Prescott's interview with Bizymom's, a website devoted to women's issues:  Bizymom's Walnut Creek Breast Augmentation

Walnut Creek Rhinoplasty

Dr. Prescott has been asked to provide an expert's review of rhinoplasty, or nose surgery by Bizymom's of Walnut Creek, California.  For more information, you can also view his website at Walnut Creek Rhinoplasty.

Walnut Creek Rhinoplasty

Bizymom's, a website devoted to issues concerning women, has selected Dr. Prescott as their Walnut Creek plastic surgery expert to answer questions about rhinoplasty.  Follow this link to read his interview: Bizymom's Walnut Creek Rhinoplasty,  or visit his website at:  Dr. Prescott Walnut Creek Rhinoplasty

Walnut Creek Facelift

See Dr. Prescott's descriptions of different Walnut Creek Facelift, and view pictures of the results, along with the cost of a facelift.