Breast enhancement
surgery,
according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS),
was the fourth most popular invasive surgical procedure among
cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in 2000. In a press release
dated July 12, 2001, the ASPS says that breast augmentation was
performed on 212,500 women last year.
Meanwhile,
millions of women have been subjected to the ill effects of these
modern day vanity contraptions that were bought in good faith.
If
you have (or had) a ruptured silicone breast implant,
you will be denied Health Insurance Coverage.
Saline-filled
implants tend to have a higher rate
of leaking and deflation than silicone gel implants,
which means more frequent surgery to replace them.
In a study
published in the Lancet medical journal, Dr Lori Brown of the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says: "There is emerging
consensus that both the incidence and prevalence of breast-implant
rupture are much higher than previously suspected."
21%
overall increase in cancers
for women with implants, compared to women of the same age in
the general population.
Implant
patients were three times as likely
to die from lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia
as other plastic surgery patients.The
study is based on medical records and death certificates of
almost 8,000 women with breast implants, including silicone
gel implants and saline implants, and more than 2,000 other
plastic surgery patients. ( National
Cancer Institute (NCI), Boston University, Abt Associates, and
the Food and Drug Administration, with Dr. Louise Brinton from
NCI as lead author. )
Breast
Implant Dangers
3% suffer
leakage within three years causing a deflated implant
Occasionally,
breast implants may break or leak. The saline fill is salt water
and will be absorbed by the body without ill effects. Older
implants with silicone gel can leak also. If this occurs, one
of two things may occur. If breakage of the implant shell that
has a contracture scar around it, then it may not feel like
anything has happed. If the shell breaks and there is not a
contracture scar, then leakage into the surrounding tissue results
in a sensation that the implant is deflating. The leaking gel
may collect in the breast and a new scar may form around it.
In other cases gel can migrate through the lymphatic system
to another area of the body. Breaks may require a second
operation and replacement of the leaking implant. If the gel
has migrated it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone
gel. This silicone gel is the what some say is related to the
initiation of connective tissue disorders.
One
study they reviewed showed that 63.6% of breast implants
which had been in place for between one and 25 years had ruptured
or were leaking.(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/33450.stm)
For
silicone gel and saline-filled implants, some causes of rupture
or deflation include : damage by surgical instruments during
surgery, overfilling or underfilling of the implant with saline
solution (specific only to saline-filled breast implants), capsular
contracture ,closed capsulotomy , stresses such as trauma or
intense physical manipulation ,excessive compression during
mammographic imaging, placement through umbilical incision ,site
injury to
the breast, normal aging of the implant ,unknown/unexplained
reasons.
FDA completed a
retrospective study on rupture of silicone gel-filled
implants. This study was performed in Birmingham,
Alabama and included women who had their first breast
implant before 1988. Women with silicone gel-filled breast
implants had a MRI examination of their breasts to determine
the status of their current breast implants. The 344 women
who received a MRI examination had a total of 687 implants.
Of the 687 implants in the study, at least two of the
three study radiologists agreed that 378 implants were
ruptured (55%). This means that 69% of the 344 women had
at least one ruptured breast implant. Of the 344 women,
73 (21%) had extracapsular silicone gel in one or both
breasts. Factors that were associated with rupture included
increasing age of the implant, the implant manufacturer,
and submuscular rather than subglandular location of the
implant. A summary of the findings of this study is also
available on FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/studies/biinterview.pdf
and http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/studies/birupture.pdf.
capsular
contracture
The
most common complication of breast implants is capsular contracture,
a tightening of the scar tissue that the body produces around
the implant as a natural part of healing. Additional surgery
may be required either to remove the scar tissue or to remove—and
perhaps replace—the implant. In a prospective clinical study
of saline-filled breast implants conducted by Mentor, the cumulative,
3-year, by patient rates of a first occurrence of capsular contracture
Grades III and IV were 9% for the 1264 augmentation patients
and 30% for the 416 reconstruction patients. In a prospective
clinical study of saline-filled breast implants conducted by
McGhan, the cumulative, 3-year, by patient rates of a first
occurrence of capsular contracture Grades III and IV were 9%
for the 901 augmentation patients and 25% for the 237 reconstruction
patients.
Silicone
Immune Toxicity Syndrome
There are
several forms of the chemical in implants that can cause a problem
in the human organism. Silicon (Si) is the basic element
and probably causes immune system changes. Silica or SiO2
is the form it is mined from the earth. Silicone gel is
a synthetic material containing 38% silicon. The silica
is 45% silicon. There is slow leakage ("bleeding") of the silicone
gel from the implants through the semi-permeable membrane envelope
and also into and through the capsule that surrounds the implants.
This is picked up by the microphages (scavenger cells)
of our immune system and is broken down inside these cells which
travel all over the body. The gel breaks down inside these
cells, which travel all over the body. The gel breaks down
into Silica and Silicon which causes an immune system dysregulation.
Thus, there are antibodies produced against the silicon
and also against the silicon and protein complex (organ systems)
so that you get autoimmune illness.
Silicone
Immune Toxicity Syndrome for further reading go to http://www.ephca.com/sits.htm
Below is the List
of Chemicals which experts have analyzed to be in the
explanted breast implant shell envelopes and gels.
ALSO..... Polyvinyl
Chloride (Liquid Vinyl) This ingredient was used in all
medical devices made at Edwards Lab, from tubing to gel.
Methylene Chloride/Dichloromethane.
This breaks down in the body so blood cannot carry oxygen.
It metabolizes carbon monoxide poisoning and causes central
nervous system depression.
Loss
of sensation in the nipple
Some women
report loss of sensation in their nipple, but they may also
become overly sensitive. Loss of sensation is more common in
breast lift-implant procedures. The area around incision may
also have small patches of numbness, or increase sensitivity.
These symptoms usually disappear within time, but may be permanent
in some patients. It usually takes at least a full year to find
out what the final sensation will be.
Occasionally,
breast implants may break or leak. The saline fill is salt water
and will be absorbed by the body without ill effects. Older
implants with silicone gel can leak also. If this occurs, one
of two things may occur. If breakage of the implant shell that
has a contracture scar around it, then it may not feel like
anything has happed. If the shell breaks and there is not a
contracture scar, then leakage into the surrounding tissue results
in a sensation that the implant is deflating. The leaking gel
may collect in the breast and a new scar may form around it.
In other cases gel can migrate through the lymphatic system
to another area of the body. Breaks may require a second
operation and replacement of the leaking implant. If the gel
has migrated it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone
gel. This silicone gel is the what some say is related to the
initiation of connective tissue disorders.
For
silicone gel and saline-filled implants, some causes of rupture
or deflation include : damage by surgical instruments during
surgery, overfilling or underfilling of the implant with saline
solution (specific only to saline-filled breast implants), capsular
contracture ,closed capsulotomy , stresses such as trauma or
intense physical manipulation ,excessive compression during
mammographic imaging, placement through umbilical incision ,site
injury to
the breast, normal aging of the implant ,unknown/unexplained
reasons.
The
most common complication of breast implants is capsular contracture,
a tightening of the scar tissue that the body produces around
the implant as a natural part of healing. Additional surgery
may be required either to remove the scar tissue or to remove—and
perhaps replace—the implant. In a prospective clinical study
of saline-filled breast implants conducted by Mentor, the cumulative,
3-year, by patient rates of a first occurrence of capsular contracture
Grades III and IV were 9% for the 1264 augmentation patients
and 30% for the 416 reconstruction patients. In a prospective
clinical study of saline-filled breast implants conducted by
McGhan, the cumulative, 3-year, by patient rates of a first
occurrence of capsular contracture Grades III and IV were 9%
for the 901 augmentation patients and 25% for the 237 reconstruction
patients.