Women who have breast implants, perhaps reflecting the fact that they are predominantly for cosmetic purposes, are different from their sisters who do not have implants. They are much less likely to be obese, drink more, be younger at first pregnancy and first birth, have a history of terminated pregnancies, to have used oral contraceptives, have more sexual partners and use hair dyes. The finding of high levels of silicone in women with implants does not substantiate a causal relationship between silicone and reported disease.
Silicone is a common mineral, and is used in food, beverage and cosmetic industries.
It is used in medicine, and over a lifetime an insulin-requiring diabetic may inject up to 50 grams of silicone, and have substantial bodily exposure to silicone. Contracture of the capsule results in moderate to extreme hardening of the breast, tightness, pain or deformity. It also occurs with saline implants. No epidemiological study has found an increased risk of breast cancer in women with breast implants compared to those without. Interference with breast cancer detection Current advice from the American College of Radiology says that adequate breast examinations can be achieved with currently available mammographic techniques.