A Game of Deception Involving Breast Implants

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A Game of Deception Involving Breast Implants

 

 

A former senior engineer with Mentor Corp. has told the FDA that,

although he and others found a solution to the problem that left the

company's breast implant devices leaking silicone oil, the fix was

only applied to demonstration models, and never to the ones meant to

actually be implanted in women.

 

A " Slick of Oil "

 

Mentor Corp. is still seeking approval to sell its silicone-gel breast

implants for general cosmetic use. It ran into difficulties last year

when the demonstration models prospective customers tried on for size

tended to leave behind a slick of silicone oil.

 

Controversy lingers over the safety of the implants. Possible health

complications from silicone-gel " bleeds " are among the issues being

assessed as the FDA ponders whether or not to allow unrestricted sale

of silicone implants for breast enlargement for the first time since 1992.

 

Disturbing Side Effects

 

Although studies generally show that silicone in your body does not

cause health problems, some women have reported disturbing side

effects. Several have reported silicone oil seeping out of their

foreheads, eyes and elsewhere. And new research may indicate that low

but constant exposure to chemicals such as silicone may result in

long-term health problems for some women.

 

Mentor dismissed the issue, saying the safety data indicates that the

gel leakage is " more than a million fold below toxicological levels of

concern. "

 

Hundreds of Thousands Each Year

 

More than 300,000 breast implant surgeries were performed last year,

either for cosmetic reasons or following a mastectomy. Since 1992,

because of health concerns, silicone-gel implants have been available

only to mastectomy patients and women willing to participate in a

clinical trial. Most women seeking breast enlargement have had to use

saline-filled models, but many say they produce a less natural-seeming

result.

 

Washington Post December 5, 2005

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

The FDA conditionally approved Mentor Corp.'s request to sell breast

implants earlier this year, only if an undisclosed letter spelling out

those specifications were followed. So much for that agreement.

 

Not surprisingly, Mentor officials have tried to disparage their

former employee -- probably to mask the veracity of his claims; when

in doubt blame the messenger.

 

The hanging question here isn't whether silicone implants can be safe,

because they can be. If they were uniformly dangerous, then every

woman who got them would get sick.

 

However, silicone in your body that is not adequately contained can

wreak havoc on your health, leaving open at least one troubling

question -- what happens if they rupture? Unfortunately, with time

they seem to rupture in nearly everyone they are implanted into.

 

Read this testimony from one of my patients and see for yourself.

 

Even if the incidence of implant ruptures are reduced from their

previous numbers, some will still rupture, and upon doing so, they

will cause the same problems they have caused before.

 

I strongly believe that most breast implants are a temporary solution

to a deeper issue: Poor self-image. Not being able to accept the way

you naturally look contributes greatly to a woman's decision to have

this surgery in the first place.

 

Addressing the underlying emotional issues behind your actions seems a

far more rational approach if your goal is to be truly happy with

yourself. Fortunately, there are simpler solutions you can use to

solve your self-image problems, and they have nothing to do with

anything invasive or toxic.

 

Energy psychology tools are the most effective method I have found to

address emotional issues, and one of my favorites is the Emotional

Freedom Technique (EFT). You can view my free manual on the subject

for more information.

 

Related Articles:

 

Breast Implants: America's Silent Epidemic

 

Breast Implants on the Rise Despite Risks

 

Most Breast Implants Rupture Over Time