Fifteen years after urging the FDA not to ban silicone implants, Dr. Grant Stevens
welcomes the FDA’s decision to return the devices to market and is pleased to offer the advantages of silicone breast implants to his patients.
November 28, 2006—The recent Food and Drug Administration’s decision to restore approval for silicone breast implants vindicates a position taken by Dr. Grant Stevens in an article published in the Wall Street Journal fifteen years ago (click here to read Dr. Steven’s article in the Wall Street Journal). With this reversal by the FDA, Dr. Stevens is again pleased to offer silicone breast implants as a choice for women in our region seeking breast augmentation and reconstruction.
“I wrote to the Wall Street Journal fifteen years ago because I believed so strongly that silicone breast implants are a superior product and a good choice for many women who desire breast enhancement,” said Dr. Stevens. “Moreover, the devices are safe. Though there was much discussion about safety at the time, there was very little evidence of major complications. As I wrote years ago, the ban the FDA ultimately chose to pursue was ‘way out of line with the facts.'”
During the years the devices were banned, Dr. Stevens continued to support and contribute to the advancement of silicone breast implant technology. He and his Associates in the local area, Dr. David Stoker, were selected to participate in an FDA study testing a high-strength silicone gel breast implant with a variety of patients. These devices, sometimes referred to as “gummy bear implants,” contain a semi-solid silicone gel material which does not leak if ruptured. The new implants, available from two U.S. manufacturers, are in fact the devices the FDA approved for sale several days ago.
“When I stood up for silicone implants fifteen years ago, I believed what I was doing was right,” asserted Dr. Stevens. “I am happy to have had the opportunity to contribute to the creation of an even better product, and I’m pleased the FDA has recognized the safety of silicone gel implants.”
Dr. Stevens and his colleagues look forward to assisting their patients in making the choices that are right for them. “A single option cannot be expected to fit every situation,” Dr. Stevens noted. “With this decision to re-approve silicone implants, the FDA has restored the patient’s ability to choose the best solution for herself.”
Dr. Grant Stevens is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of Plastic Surgery Associates. He specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery and has been named one of America’s Best Physicians in The Guide to Top Doctors. Dr. Stevens was nominated by his colleagues, which makes this recognition especially prestigious and rewarding. He is an active member at Daniel Freeman Hospital where he is the past Chairman of the Department of Surgery, the past Chairman of the Liposuction Committee, and the past co-director of the Breast Center. He is also on staff at St. John’s Medical Center and the Outpatient Surgery Center.
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