Washington - A US government regulator on Friday approved the sale of silicon breast implants for cosmetic use, overturning a 14-year ban imposed due to safety concerns.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the implants` use for breast augmentation in women 22 and older, but said that safety tests would continue.
Allergan Inc and Mentor Corp are the two companies that make the gel-based product, which supposedly has a more natural feel than saline-filled implants that had not been subjected to a ban.
Until Friday, silicon implants` use had been limited to reconstructive surgery and clinical trials.
"The extensive body of scientific evidence provides reasonable assurance of the benefits and risks of these devices," Daniel Schultz, director of the FDA`s Center for Devices and Radiological Health said in a statement.
"The silicone breast implant is one of the most extensively studied medical devices," Shultz said, adding that it was now up to "women and their physicians to make informed decisions."
Analysts said the sale of breast implants may double in the next few years as a result of the ruling, according to Bloomberg News.