FDA approves new silicone gel breast implant - February 20, 2021
Women in the U.S. seeking breast enlargement now have another breast implant option from which to choose. On February 20, 2021 the FDA approved the Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Silicone Gel breast implant (by Allergan) for breast augmentation and reconstruction. This implant has been in use in Europe and elsewhere for some time, but was unavailable in the U.S….until now. The gel in this implant contains more cross-linking than the gel used in Allergan’s previously approved Natrelle silicone gel implants. This increased cross-linking results in an implant that is firmer: more like a soft solid than a liquid. Cross-linking refers to the bonds that link one silicone chain to another. In March 2012 the FDA approved a silicone gel implant by Sientra, sometimes called the “Gummy Bear” implant.
The silicone gel in this implant is also more cohesive than gel implants already on the market in the U.S.. The silicone gel in the Sientra implant is described as “High-Strength” gel, and the firmness of this implant is intermediate between that of this Natrelle 410 implant and the gel implants previously available.The idea behind these implants is that they are more “form stable” and therefore less prone to show rippling, which can be a problem for women with thin tissues. They also have inherent shape which mimics the slope of a natural breast.
More choice is a good thing, but more choice adds to the complexity of the decision. The selection of the best implant for a woman desiring breast enlargement is far from simple, and no one implant is right for all women. Seek the advice of an experienced plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who will take the time to guide you through the process of implant selection.
Mark D. Ball, M.D., F.A.C.S.
