NOW's Work on Breast Implants

Art by Pharanai (Mek) Suwannatat.

Breast implants have become a worldwide multi-billion dollar industry based on cultivating women's insecurities about their bodies, while failing to prove that implants are safe over the long-term. In 2006, after a 14 year ban, the Food and Drug Administration approved marketing silicone-gel breast implants to women aged 22 and older. This unfortunate decision was made — after much pressure by the Bush administration, plastic surgeons and implant manufacturers — despite evidence of serious health risks.

See also: NOW and women's health

General Information:

• Fact Sheet About Breast Implants (PDF)
• Testimony of NOW President Kim Gandy to the FDA April 11, 2005

Latest News:

• NOW Foundation Joins Campus Breastival (10/07)
• Demand Accountability for Women's Health at the FDA (05/07)
• FDA Bows to Industry: OKs Risky Kind of Breast Implant (01/07)
• FDA Approves Dangerous Silicone Breast Implants (11/06)
• Toxic Platinum, Sick Children: NOW Wants Halt To Implant Approval (11/06)
• Contact Congress, FDA About NEW Implant Safety Risks (10/06)
• Toxic Platinum Found in Women With Implants; FDA Decision Expected on Risky Silicone Breast Implants (09/06)
• NOW Applauds DeLauro Legislation Holding FDA Accountable on Emergency Contraception, Breast Implants (09/06)
• Tell FDA That Research Is Needed on Toxic Platinum Salts in Silicone Breast Implants (06/06)
• Prevent Approval of Unsafe Implants: Call FDA, Senate on Wednesday, April 5 (4/06)
• Tell the FDA Not to Approve Silicone Breast Implants while Manufacturer is under Criminal Investigation (2/06)
• Write Senators Now! Stop the FDA from Approving Silicone Breast Implants while Manufacturer is under Criminal Investigation (2/06)

Archive

2005

• New Findings on Mentor Corporation Reveal Further Disdain for Women's Health (12/05)
• FDA Makes Another Bad Decision on Silicone Breast Implants (11/05)
• FDA Tomo Otra Mala Decisión Sobre Los Implantes de Silicon (11/05)
• Applauding Crawford Resignation, NOW Asks for Reversal on Implants (09/05)
• FDA Poised to Approve Dangerous Implants, Shows Disdain for Women's Health (09/05)
• NOW Activists Organized Call in to the FDA August 24 (08/05)
• FDA Deception: Uninformed 'Choice' is No Choice at All (08/05)
• FDA Endangers Women's Health With Silicone Breast Implant Decision (07/05)
• Ask for Investigation on Mentor Corporation's Application to the FDA (05/05)
• Mentor Corporation Hid Breast Implant Defects, Including Flea Contamination (05/05)
• Giving Breast Implants As Birthday Gifts Makes 16 Less Sweet (05/05)
• NOW Calls for FDA Probe, Questions Integrity of Panel's Recommendation on Breast Implants (04/05)
• Letter to Congress Calling for FDA Probe of Panel's Recommendation on Breast Implants (PDF) (04/05)
• FDA Panel Issues Regrettable Decision on Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants April 13, 2005
• FDA Panel Recommends Against Readmitting Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants April 12, 2005
• NOW President Testifies Before FDA on Danger of Silicone Breast Implants April 11, 2005
• NOW Urges FDA to Reject Risky Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implant Applications April 6, 2005
• Action Alert: Put Science First at the FDA April 06, 2005
• Action Alert: Stand Up for the Truth About Risky Silicone Implants March 25, 2005
• Review of Silicone Implants Tentatively Scheduled January 6, 2005

2004

• Action Alert: Stop "Breast Christmas Ever" Contests December 22, 2004
• Succumbing to Political Pressure, FDA May OK Risky Breast Implants December 3, 2004
• Mastectomy, Lumpectomy and the Freedom of Choice October 29, 2004
• Silicone Breast Implant Victims to See Settlement Dollars June 1, 2004
• NOW Encouraged By FDA's Refusal to Approve Silicone Breast Implants January 8, 2004
• Will FDA Ignore Danger of Silicone Breast Implants? Winter 2003/2004

2003

• NOW Equality Report - September-December 2003 FDA Delays Silicone Breast Implant Decision Fall/Winter 2003
• NOW Holds Symposium on Silicone Breast Implants Fall 2003
• FDA Panel Okays Unsafe Silicone Breast Implants October 24, 2003
• Make Every Day Love Your Body Day October 15, 2003
• Testimony of Kim Gandy Before the FDA Panel on Silicone Breast Implants October 14, 2003
• Activists Assail FDA on Safety of Silicone Breast Implants October 10, 2003
• Action Alert: Join the Fight to Delay FDA Approval of Silicone Breast Implants October 6, 2003
• Action Alert: Ask the FDA to Delay Approval of Silicone Breast Implants Until Safety is Proved July 25, 2003
• Research Indicates Long-Term Risk to Women's Health from Silicone Breast Implants Not Fully Addressed in FDA Clinical Trials July 21, 2003
• NOW Equality Report - June-August 2003: NOW Holds Hill Briefing on Silicone Breast Implants Summer, 2003
• Health and Consumer Groups To Call On U.S. FDA To Slow Breast Implant Approval Process July 16, 2003

2000-2002

• Women's Health Project: Fact Sheets: Women and Cosmetic Surgery September 10, 2002
• Support H.R. 1961, The Breast Implant Research and Information Act November 14, 2001
• NOW Unites with Breast Cancer Groups for Research on Causes and Prevention Winter 2000

1996-1999

• Summer Wrap-Up: Legislative Update Women's Health and Well-Being on the Agenda Fall 1999
• 1999 National NOW Conference Resolutions Further Clinical Research on Breast Implants With Supporting Legislation in Congress 1999 Conference
• 1997 National NOW Conference Resolutions Breast Implant Research 1997
• 1996 Conference Resolutions Breast Implant Resolution 1996