Breast implant makers and cosmetic surgeons see windfall

With the FDA finally lifting a 14-year ban on silicon breast implants in the United States, makers of the devices have expressed optimism that a sales boom will soon follow. And more implants sold mean more business for cosmetic surgeons as well.

The Los Angeles Times gives us the details:

Any surge in silicone implants would be good news for surgeons such as Steven Teitelbaum, who met more than half a dozen patients considering breast surgery early this week in his sleek Santa Monica office filled with photos of naked women and still lifes of fruit. Teitelbaum, who said his patient logs were already pretty full, said he believed that silicone was clearly the better choice for most women.

"I don't question what direction north is, where the sun sets, or if silicone is better than saline," he said, although adding that he was leaving the final decision to his patients.

A silicone surge also would be welcome for the two companies that dominate the trade, Mentor Corp. of Santa Barbara and Allergan Inc. of Irvine.

Last year, the two companies each rang up about $230 million in sales of mostly saline implants. One big reason their profits will probably rise: Silicone implants cost twice as much as saline ones, or about $1,800 a pair, even though they're not much more expensive to make.

With the lifting of the ban, Wall Street analysts are predicting that by the middle of the next decade, implant sales could hit $2 billion a year.

Quite a windfall indeed.