Silicone Breast Implants: In or Out
The controversial issue of silicone breast implants (SBI) has yet to be settled. The manufacturers deny that the implants cause any physical problems in patients who were implanted with the SBI . The Food and Drug Administration say there may be possible links between the silicone implant and physical problems in patients who received the implant. Medical doctors are also divided by the issue of using silicone implant. Some doctors advise patients to leave them in, while other doctors advise the patients to take them out. Ultimately it is the patient who is caught in the middle and must make decisions in information available.
Numerous women in the past, with information supplied mostly in part by their physicians, have undergone breast augmentation with silicone breast implants. Many women are concerned that information needed to make a decision before they had breast augmentation surgery was not supplied by the doctors and implant manufactures. Many patients now have to decide to remove the implant or to leave the implant in.
Controversy over the safety of the SBI has been debated for many years. Manufactures deny any problems with the silicone, while the FDA reports that there are numerous problems associated with the implants. Women who have had the silicone implants are caught in the middle of the manufactures and the FDA debate and do not know who to believe. Many of these women have started self help groups. If the patient decides to remove the implant it is the doctors and manufactures who benefit. Previously implanted with silicone, patients must decipher the breast implants the contradicting reports of the manufactures and the FDA, and determine if they want their implants taken out or to leave them in. As a women who was first implanted in 1968, and the receiver of 6 set of implants, with over 20 surgeries related to the silicone implants, I decided to remove my implants. I would advise other women to do the same. Evidence suggest that women were not properly informed by doctors and the silicone implants manufactures.
During the past 30 years at least one million American women have undergone breast implant surgery. That figure is inexact, but then so is everything that's known, or suspected, about the procedure. In fact, the most important information...was how little information there is. Which means that not one of these women made a truly informed decision" (breast 1992, p.a18.) Many women who had the breast implant surgery are now faced with a personal dilemma. Do they leave the silicone implant that ...may trigger the skin disease scleroderma, and arthritis-like dieases that cause severe pain and swelling of the joints (Hilts,1992 p. A1). Do the women remove the silicone breast implants? This is no simple answer to a complex question. Like any major surgery, explanation carries a risk of bleeding, infection and reaction to anesthesia (Weiss, 1993 p. C:13).
Disagreement over the safety of implants has been simmering since the 1960s..and it was not until 1988 that the FDA demanded safety from the manufactures (Hilts, 1992 p. A12). Dow Corning Wright Company has denied that silicone breast implants cause cancer or any other health problems. Dow Corning Wright provided an 800 telephone number for people with questions or concerns about silicone breast implant.Dow was warned by the FDA, in a letter, about giving false information to patients over the telephone by Dow workers. In its letter..that these false statements were being made by company employees over the telephone:
* "Scientific data and research show that breast implants are 100% safe."
* "After 30 years of study conducted with patients there have never been health problems with implants or silicone".
* "Breast implants are safe," (Hilts, 1991, p. A12).
Some Physicians came forward and said that the implants are not safe. Dr Sidney Wolfe, a critic of implants...said "Women simply will not use these implants when told what the risks are, and those who do, it will be because the plastic surgeons will try to tell women there is no problem" (Hilts, 1992 p. A1).
In Trumbell Connecticut a 50 year old registered nurse started a support group. The nurse had her implants removed and wanted to talk to other women facing similar problems." We live in terror, from day to day wondering what's going to happen next. We suffer from muscle and joint pain, blood vessels breaking, mouth ulcers, gum reddening, skin problems, memory loss, and the worse part is that you can't even get someone to lisiten to your problems (Limauro, 1993, p. 13 CN10).
One of the options women have is to have their implants removed and to do this they must first talk to their physician. Many women are embarrassed to talk about the difficult decision to remove their implants, and some surgeons fear the endorsing the option might be interpreted as a concession that the implants were a mistake from the start (Weiss, 1993, p. C13).
There is the cost to consider and who will pay for having the implants removed. Many patients have insurance but if the implants were put in to enlarge the breast, this is considered cosmetic surgery, and most insurance companies will not pay to remove them.. At least one million women have had silicone implants inserted. If that same one million women wanted to remove the implants, who will profit from the procedure?
"But cynical observers note that explant operations can run from $5,000 or more, and say that no matter which way the implant pendulum swings, the plastic surgeons will come out ahead. Dr. Colen, who for years has inserted only saline-filled implants...admits that the bad news about silicone has been good news for business. "I can't complain," she said. "I'm very busy" (Weiss, 1993, p. C13)
Another physician had views on the patients, for whom the implants harden and what to do for them. Dr. David Hidalgo, a surgeon, says "if they do (harden), we remove the original implant and scar tissue, and replace it".(Seigel, 1990. p. 139). Small concession for the women who must pay for the operation and go through the added pain and suffering.
Any women who choose implants will understand that she is participating in a massive experiment (Hilts, 1992, p. A1)
References
Breast Implants: Not for everyone. (1992, Feburary 04.) New York Times, p. A18
Hilts, Philip J. (1991, April 17, final ed.) F. D. A. restricts use of implants pending studies. New York Times, p. A1
Hilts Philip J. (1991) December 31, final ed.) Breast implant maker is accused of misleading telephone callers. New York Times, p. A12
Limauro, Mary Ann (1993 October 31, final ed.) Support group helps women deal with implant question. new York Times sec. 13CN p. 10.
Siegel, Paula M. (1993 January). Breast reconstruction: The options. Self. pp 138-139.
Weiss, Rick (1993 June 09, final ed.0. Many women choosing removal of silicone breast implants. New York Times p. C13
The stories, text, and experiences expressed on this page are the soul opinion of the author of this web site, Kathy Nye. Please direct any comments or questions regarding her opinions to her attention at kathynye@aol.com
