Comments on: NY Times Identifies Breast Implants as Annuity Medicine

By: Kerry silicone2000

Kerry silicone2000 — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:00:55 +0000

Great work ladies!!!I feel you Rogene, What about our offspring and generations to come?My heart bleeds when I think of the children, and the ones way worse off then my daughter…how Im so lucky and grateful!
What I have learned..ALOT, but telling people in the public Im very sick from breast implants that almost killed me.Someone seems to always say I knew a lady like this or my moms friend was very sick from breast implants…..then if Im talking to a oral surgeon, they so dont want to hear it and how Im pretty sure my body will react to a forgein object,that Dr. Kolb told us I had human adjuvent desease.
The sad truth is women are glorified there getting implants,and so many dont look at the downside, or told by the doctor with all these pretty degrees on their wall, these women are clueless and then why am I doing B.A. s all day?So breast implants being approved by the FDA,that means there ok to glorified women or young girl getting the B.A.
Being sick 4 years straight,really weak since 2000, 8 years ago…my daughter affected by my breast implants in 2002 into 2003, the burden, all around burdens, is mind blowing to sit and think back what you have been through over one set of breast implants….and how youre still treated when you tell the doctors and dentist,you almost died from breast implants.youre treated like an alien..because you spoke out.Im hoping to still hear back from Natasha again,and I feel really good I was able to rip off all the groups and names and sites.Together we will make a difference!!!!!

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:45:25 +0000

It’s great that this article talks about some of the negatives of breast implants, but it could’ve gone further and mentioned the illness aspect. Mold growing in my so-called “safe” saline implants made me very ill within 3 years of having them implanted. I’ve also had 8 surgeries because of previous problems with silicone implants. Women need to be informed of ALL the risks. Manufacturers, doctors, politicians, and the FDA prefer to pretend implants are safe–the money is just too big.

By: Sybil

Sybil — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:54:56 +0000

Thanks to everyone for your responses to my article. Everyone made important additions to my thoughts.

Krista - you were brave to come forward and tell your story. I know you helped a lot of people have greater understanding of breast implant issues. A special thank you to you.

And, above all, Hooray for Natasha Singer who talked about breast implants with a new approach. We, implanted women, already knew what Natasha Singer wrote about but Natasha sent it out to the many who needed to start thinking about implants in another way.

By: Kacey

Kacey — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:48:35 +0000

The article states: “Your implants may last less than 10 years or more than 10 years, but when you start having problems with them, your health insurance is unlikely to cover the M.R.I. tests or the reoperations,” said Carol Ciancutti-Leyva, the director of a 2007 anti-implant documentary called “Absolutely Safe.” “It can be a very expensive proposition, especially if you are young.”

I believe young people have no idea how much breast implants may cost over the years. My breasts were augmented at age 19, and my (well-qualified, highly recommended, and board-certified) plastic surgeon said that the only reason I would need an additional surgery is if I wanted to “go bigger” or “have silicone gel implants put in”. I happily thought to myself, “Nope, no extra surgeries for me.”

Well, 2 years later my breasts were burning and overly sensitive (among other systemic complications) and I had to have my implants removed. I fought my insurance company for 8 months, and they finally covered the $6,500 it cost to remove my saline implants and put my breasts back to normal. In 2 years, I incurred over $10,000 of breast expenses. You bet augmentation is life-long committment!

I came out on the cheaper side, as the least amount of surgeries you can have is two…one to put them in, and one to take them out. If these teens and 20-somethings knew that they were looking at implant replacement surgery at least every 10 years, and that they would be forking over about $5,000 each time, I think they’d take a step back. I’m glad I’ll never know what it’s like to tell my grandchildren, “Sorry there’s no Christmas this year, Grandma’s 80-year old breasts needed another tune up.”

By: Krista

Krista — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:18:52 +0000

Hi Sybil- I’m the Krista in the article. I just wanted to point out that Natasha DID ask me about my illnesses. We did not go into a great bit of detail about them, but we did talk about them. I had really hoped the article would touch on that aspect, and was disapointed that it didn’t. It made me wonder if after reading the article people wondered why I had both of my implants removed in the same exact year that I had one of them replaced after a rupture.
I’m just glad that even one aspect of the issues with breast implants was discussed. This is one more step in the right direction for us.
~Krista

By: Rogene

Rogene — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:36:50 +0000

Thanks so much Sybil . . .

The article was great - as far as it went . . . Grossly overlooked is the fact that there have been no significant studies (after being on the market over 40 years) of the health effects on sick offspring of implanted women. There is a tragedy here that is beyond imagination! . . .

Once a woman becomes symptomatic, the chance that her child will experience rashes, allergies, digestive issues, joint and bone pain increases dramatically… If they were unfortunate enough to inherit specific HLA types, the problems may be far more serious! . . . Deformed extremities, multiple autoimmune problems . . . even death!

Something that troubles me is that most women don’t realize the manufacturer’s warranty covers only REPLACEMENT. If a woman choses to remove them for health reasons, she’s on her own!

Another troubling thing is how 80,000 women will be selected for the next stage required by the FDA . . . I suspect they will be cherry-picked from the women who were lucky enough to stay healthy and keep their implants. . . The others will be dropped from the studies - just as they have been in the past.

There’s more than one problem here! . . . Hello Washington! Are you listening?

Rogene
Moderator of SiliconeKids - A support group for the families of children made sick by silicone devices.

By: Shelly in Ohio

Shelly in Ohio — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:36:16 +0000

FDA is a liar breast implants did me harm. I was a very healthy young women who loved to exercise and eat healthy. I became very ill as soon as I got these breast implants. Go to Yahoo Saline Support groups and see all the women who we are trying to help to get better from being harmed from breast augmentations. the silcone and saline breast implants.
We are mad how we were lied too about those deadly things. Some women have lost their lives over these things you so call safe.

By: Pam

Pam — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:27:26 +0000

Sybil..This was a terrific post! The NY Times did a good job on this one! The one line in the article that REALLY TICKS ME…is DR. Jewell comparing the major surgery of breast implants to a haircut or a manicure! GRRRRR
“Women are used to having their hair or nails done on a regular basis to maintain their appearance,” said Dr. Jewell, who has conducted clinical trials for both implant manufacturers and is a consultant for Allergan, the manufacturer behind the ads running in Elle. “Ultimately, breast implants may also be a matter of maintenance.”