High Rate of Silcone Busts… Uh, Bust
April 7th, 2005 | by Mike G |http://www.nytimes.com/20…&partner=rssnyt
In documents made public on Wednesday, health regulators estimated that up to 93 percent of silicone breast implants ruptured within 10 years. The surprisingly high figure will further roil a debate next week about whether to lift the 13-year-old ban on silicone implants for breast enhancement. Yet, as I always suspected, cosmetic surgeons have your best interests close to their breast.
The risks of silicone seepage are not fully known, however. Scar tissue generally forms around most implants, but silicone leaks out of the scar pocket in about one-fourth of patients, the agency found. Because most failures of silicone implants go unrecognized, the agency suggested that women with them should undergo medical screening every year or two.
Dr. Mark Jewell, president elect of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, said he was surprised that the agency had estimated that silicone implants failed so often.
"That’s certainly news and does need to be addressed," said Dr. Jewell, who has consulted for Inamed and Mentor. "But I feel that the devices should be approved."
