The Institute of Medicine report Safety of Silicone Breast Implants evaluates the evidence for associations of these devices with human health conditions, provides a comprehensive list of references, and makes recommendations for further research.

This publication, which is derived exclusively from that report, is a step toward meeting one of its recommendations—that is, making the information contained in the original report available to women who have or who are considering breast implants. In this publication, the Institute seeks to provide a short, easily understood version of that information to women.

Stuart Bondurant

Chair

Committee on the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants

Virgina L. Ernster

Vice Chair

Committee on the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants

Front Matter (R1-R4)

Information for Women About the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants (1-19)

Conclusions (20-20)

Mammograms and Other Breast Imaging in Women with Implants (21-23)

Recommendations (24-25)

A History of Implants (26-30)