Yes according to the FDA and hundreds of accredited researchers around the world. That is why the FDA has approved silicone gel implants for augmentation, and why saline filled silicone implants have been in continuous use since the 1960's except for a few months in the early 1990's.
As most people recall, there was intense negative publicity in the early 90's. For those interested in the historical background, further below is a review of that anti-implant campaign.
Most people are surprised to learn that we all have man-made silicone in our bodies (most likely made by Dow Corning). It is located in our lymph glands, our immune systems and elsewhere. This silicone got into our immune system mostly from our drinking water, because silicone is used as a lubricant in the pipes, pumps and valves that carry our water supply. Also, we breathe in a silicone aerosol from hairsprays, perfumes, and even in the air around copier machines. Man-made silicone also enters our bodies in various medicines, and from hospital needles, IV's and syringes. None of this has ever been found to be dangerous. Moreover there are hundreds of implantable medical devices made of silicone, from pacemakers to artificial joints, and there is so far no evidence of this silicone being harmful.
In January 2007, we were allowed to resume using silicone implants for first time breast augmentation patients (22 years of age minimum), and they have proven very popular with women. Some types of implant have not yet been approved for use in the USA (except for certain study centers) one type of which is referred to as the "Gummy-Bear" implant. These implants are filled with a very thick semi-solid form of silicone gel, with the consistency of the "Gummy-Bear" candies. Although firmer to the touch than regular silicone implants, these have the characteristic that if the outer shell fails, the thick silicone gel keeps its shape.
Is it absolutely impossible that some harmful effect could be found in the future? No one can say that would be impossible, but so far no harmful effect has been found.
Through the years, study after study showed no connection between implants and illnesses, and showed that any health complaints that the implant women had were also present just as often in women who never had implants. But the attorneys refused to accept those reports, claiming that the scientists were biased, or mistaken. So the attorneys and the court appointed their own panel of scientific experts to do their own analysis and evaluation of the data, and finally settle the question. The attorneys assumed that their own hand-picked scientists would report that silicone was harmful, the outcome they wanted. On December 1, 1998, that court's panel of experts made their final report:
The court-appointed panel could find absolutely no link between silicone breast implants and disease!
Obviously, the attorneys were furious about the report of their court's own hand-picked panel.
At one time, the campaigners even tried to link silicone to birth defects in children. That also has been disproven. And there is no problem with breast-feeding either. Actually, there is more silicone in cow's milk than in the milk from a nursing mother with breast implants.
A very comprehensive review can be downloaded from the
American Council on Science and Health site. An exceptionally clear and incisive review of the entire breast implant situation, including both the scientific and the legal aspects, is a book written by Dr. Marcia Angell, entitled "Science on Trial", published by W W Norton. And if you wonder why million-dollar awards were given to women and their lawyers despite the abundant evidence that silicone is not dangerous, you may want to read about the astonishing lawsuit details.
Return to text above.
Keywords: Breast implants through the navel; Transumbilical breast implants; Belly-button breast implants; Through-the-navel breast enlargement; Through-the-navel breast augmentation; Trans-umbilical breast augmentation; Trans-umbilical breast enlargement; Belly-button breast enlargement; Belly-button breast augmentation; Breast enlargement through the navel; Breast augmentation through the navel; Navel breast enlargement; Navel breast augmentation; 'Scarless' breast enlargement; 'Scarless' breast augmentation.