Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Blog

The FDA has allowed the return of silicone breast implants to the general plastic surgery market, but their decision has outraged many in the industry. The FDA has decided to allow the reintroduction of silicone breast implants, but they will only be approved for sale to board-certified plastic surgeons. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery is livid over the decision saying that, “It is not only discriminatory, but it will prove to be a huge loss for patients. People deserve quality care and there is no proof that a board-certified plastic surgeon is better qualified to perform a breast augmentation with the silicone implants than a board-certified cosmetic surgeon.” This came out of the mouth of AACS President Claude H. Crockett, Jr. MD, FACS.

Cosmetic surgery uniquely confines itself to the general or specific improvement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. The practice is especially concerned with maintaining what we would call a normal appearance, restoring it to its once preferred place or enhancing it beyond what the general public would consider the average or ideal appearance. There are a near countless variety of cosmetic surgeries available on the market today that will quite literally cover the entire body. These plastic surgeries are performed by both qualified cosmetic surgeons and qualified plastic surgeons.

Michael H. Rosenberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a trustee in the AACS he says, “This recommendation has been made without the proper information. Plastic surgery includes both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, while cosmetic surgery is based upon aesthetics. This debate is rightly about the safety of the breast implants, rather than the specialty and qualifications of the surgeon.”

There is currently an investigation of why a federal agency that is charged with protecting public health would use its authority to improperly restrict patient choice by choosing to exclude thousands of qualified cosmetic surgeons for using silicone implants. It is quite the conversation piece whatever side of the argument you fall on.