While implants are generally considered to be safe, there have been some concerns about risks.
Some silicone implants were voluntarily taken off the market in the 1990s due to safety concerns. Since then, regulatory authorities such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) must approve brands that are used in Australia.
In April 2010, the French breast implant brand Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) was withdrawn due to safety concerns and a possible increased likelihood of ruptures. About 5000 Australians had a PIP implant between 2000 and 2010, most of which were cosmetic procedures.
In late 2019, the TGA removed from sale some textured breast implants. The TGA also imposed extra conditions on other implants due to concerns over BIA–ALCL.
The Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR) is a national clinical quality registry for all people having breast implant surgery. Its aim is to provide a way to track the long-term safety and performance of breast implants. This can help identify early signs of problems with a device.
ABDR is supported by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand, and the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine. Your surgeon will provide you with printed information about the registry and you’ll be contacted by ABDR after the surgery with more information.
For more details, visit ABDR or ask your surgeon. You can also visit the TGA’s online breast implant hub for updated safety information.
Discuss any concerns you have about the safety of your implant with your surgeon.
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Dr Jane O’Brien, Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgeon, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, VIC; Clare Bradshaw, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Rene Hahn, Consumer; Sinead Hanley, Consumer; Dr Marc Langbart, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Randwick Plastic Surgery, NSW; Melanie Law, Consumer; Sally Levy, Consumer; Annmaree Mitchell, Consumer; Ashleigh Mondolo, Breast Cancer Nurse Clinical Consultant, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, QLD; Rochelle Osgood, Clinical Nurse Consultant – McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, QLD: Dr Kallyani Ponniah, Head of Department, Breast Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Meg Rynderman OAM, Consumer; Sarah Stewart, Breast Care Nurse, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Erin Tidball, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Jane Turner, Senior Exercise Physiologist, Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre, Concord Cancer Centre, NSW.
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