1: Australian regulation of breast implants ¹

There are no restrictions on the supply and use of saline breast implants in Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia has joined the Food and Drug Administration in the United States in restricting the use of silicone gel-filled breast implants. These have been removed from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. Silicone gel-filled breast implants cannot be legally supplied in Australia, except on an individual patient use basis under the following circumstances:

• To match-up with a pre-existing silicone gel implant in the other breast;

• Replacement of a damaged silicone gel implant (the implant in the other breast may also be replaced, even though it has not developed any problem, but is of a similar age to the damaged implant);

• In cases where the surgeon can provide a convincing case that saline implants will not be satisfactory.

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