Russian Women Sell Used Silicone Breast Implants Online Amid Declining Popularity

In Russia, a peculiar trend has emerged on secondhand sales websites where women are offering their removed silicone breast implants for sale. These used implants, extracted during surgeries, are advertised either as cheaper alternatives to new implants or as collectible oddities. Listings often include details such as size, brand, condition, and the number of years the implants were inside the body, with prices significantly lower than new implants.

Medical professionals have expressed serious concerns about this practice, warning that silicone breast implants are not designed for reuse. After prolonged implantation, the devices may become worn, contaminated, damaged, or covered with tissue residues that cannot be safely cleaned at home. Surgeons emphasize that even if an implant appears intact externally, its shell may be weakened or have microscopic tears, which could lead to leakage, inflammation, pain, tissue damage, and the need for further surgery if reimplanted.

This unusual market trend coincides with a decline in the popularity of breast augmentation surgeries in Russia over the past decade. Reports indicate that more women are opting to remove or replace their implants, with some possibly attempting to recoup part of their expenses by selling the used implants online. The phenomenon has drawn attention under Russian copyright law due to the unusual nature of the sales and the health risks involved.