Silicone breast implants return - in a big way

Yes, those implants, the kind that led to billions of dollars in product-liability payments to compensate hundreds of thousands of women worldwide who claimed the devices left them sick or disfigured.
The Food and Drug Administration has deemed the latest versions of gel implants to be "reasonably safe" - and that's good news for the growing number of women who want them.
"I know there's a big risk of reoperation. And that they can rupture. And there can be problems with mammograms," said Carolyn Brusilow, 44, who switched from saline-filled implants to gels. "But I was willing to take that chance."
"I'm very happy with the results," added the Ardmore, Pa., wife, mother of four, and administrative assistant.
Although only 11 weeks have passed since the FDA lifted its 14-year-old ban on gel implants for "augmentation" patients, the devices are expected to once again corner that market.

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Plastic surgery and breast implants popular for brides

Try a nip and a tuck or a little extra around the chest -- those were some of the most popular items on the weekend at Winnipeg's Wonderful Wedding Show.
"I see a lot of people who have concerns when they're getting married about what they're going to look like," said cosmetic surgeon Dr. Manfred Ziesmann, manning his own booth at the trade show.
Ziesmann said non-surgical laser skin procedures have become increasingly popular with brides who want their skin to look fl awless in their wedding photos.
Also popular are tightening creams to help smooth out bumps and sags and Botox injections to tackle wrinkles.
But the majority of brides interested in cosmetic enhancements are looking to fi ll out their wedding dresses.
Despite the $5,000 price tag, Ziesmann said silicone breast implants are still his biggest sellers.

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Silicone Breast Implants Are Unsafe

Despite FDA's recent approval of silicone breast implants, there still are "considerable risks that women must consider before walking into the operating room," Edward Melmed, a Dallas-based plastic surgeon, and Judy Norsigian, executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves, write in a Boston Globe opinion piece (Melmed/Norsigian, Boston Globe, 2/2). FDA in November 2006 approved the use of silicone breast implants manufactured by Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Mentor and Irvine, Calif.-based Allergan for breast reconstruction and cosmetic breast augmentation, but the agency limited cosmetic use to women ages 22 and older. Most breast implants, which often are given to women who have undergone a mastectomy to treat breast cancer, contain saline solution. Silicone breast implants were banned in 1992 because of safety concerns.

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