I don’t think I ever have or ever will understand the appeal of having a hairless vagina on a post pubescent female who one the one hand desires to look like a women and have large breasts and a big butt, but on the other hand wants her unmentionable area to look like that of a seven year old girl. Don’t get me wrong– it’s not that I have anything against the whole concept of being hairless or not- it’s just that I don’t really get it.

                When I was younger and shaving was still a novel pastime, I am pretty sure I took much better care of my body hair situation than I do now. Now at days I wait weeks, even months before I summon up enough energy to put a razor to what has indeed turned into something similar to that of a grizzly bear’s leg. I stuck only to shaving and I still have a scar on my leg from one of my first times. With the exception of the only time I attempted to use NAIR. I was only to be suffocated by the smell and not follow the directions exactly, leaving a very traumatized and confused 15 year old. Now, as a teenager who started getting hair on her armpits in the fourth grade, I knew I had to take care of business in order to fit in. This meant wearing makeup (my first few years included my Mimi from the Drew Carey show phase), dating boys, and looking all the ‘right’ ways. But how was I supposed to know what to do? I grew up with two older brothers and two foreign parents completely unaware of the importance of beauty and poise in an American girls early teenage years. This of course led to the shaving of the eyebrows which in turn led to no eyebrows and my dad throwing away all the razors in the house, the tanning lotion incident where I looked like an oompa loompa for 2 weeks, the sun in incident which bleached my hair white and when my dad asked me about it I said: “no dad, its natural,” the many hair dye incidents ranging from fire engine red to black to scarecrow, and the list goes on. But for now, I will elate you with the pubic hair stories.

                I was fifteen at the time when my friend persuaded me that shaving was a dangerous and deadly issue in regards to the vagina area. I was terrified. Had I just been lucky that my parts were still intact? Would the next experience prove to be vagina fatal and leave me with a body part that would be the next revelation in the scientific community? This was a matter of life or death. I simply HAD to get waxed.

                I went with my friend to her usual waxing salon. It was a small sanitary place which I imagined to be similar to a ward unit in a mental hospital. My friend went into a room, took her clothes off, lied down on the table, and spread her legs like a dog basking in the hot summer sun.  It seemed like a piece of cake. The ladies who preformed the task seemed to know what they were doing and my friend Jane* was completely fine and relaxed. Soon enough, it was over.  And, then it was my turn. As I took off my pants and  lied down on the table requirements my heart began beating quickly. Was I ready for this? Did I really want these nameless women to put hot wax on the hair in the areas surrounding my vagina and quickly rip it off? Yes… I was sure I did. I won’t lie and say it was as appealing as getting sushi, but there was some level of curiousity. I began to get nervous and told them I was having doubts. My friend quickly shushed me and told me I will be fine. “Just breathe,” she said.”It doesn’t hurt and it will look so good in the end!” The workers reaffirmed that they had done this hundreds of times and this was a quick and painless process. So they put the first layer of wax down… put the cloth strip… and pulled.

Now firstly, I want to explain something about relativity. Merriam- Webster defines relativity as” the state of being dependent for existence on or determined in nature, value, or quality by relation to something else.” Understandable, but I want to put emphasis on the key words: by relation. Now I want to go back to the affirmations that this was to be a quick and painless process. YES. It was to be painless… IN RELATION to having every limb pulled off your body by razor sharp teeth or YES, it was to be painless in relation to having your brain paper cut in the same spot over and over again. But painless in relation to enjoying my Saturday afternoons reading and drinking tea like I had for the previous months? I think not.

                Needless to say, when I left the waxing salon I was not only bleeding, but every employee laughed at me and asked me if I was still alive. They had heard my screams from the other side of the building, and chose to continue sitting passively albeit possible a child was getting abducted and dissected by aliens in the other room.

                It was evident that I would never wax again. Until I met Michelle,  a terrific friend whose judgment I trusted almost more than my own. She told me how she had been getting waxed for years and when I shared my story, she sat there horrified, but listened. She told me that she would not pressure me but that I should maybe try one more time since it sounded like the first place I went to was the equivalent of living in Soviet Russia.  I agreed. And so months prolonged and I avoided going to the salon until one day I decided I must conquer my fears or die trying.

Michelle and I went to the waxing salon where they served be the best tea I had ever had in my life. It was a homemade ginger and honey recipe. I knew right there and then they were winners. They were extremely kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. They had many pamphlets to read that were produced by the company and they gave advice as well as what to do while the process was happening. This was it. I was going to once again make a choice to have hot wax smothered close to my genitals for beautification purposes. Almost 9 years after the first incident, I was ready to get back on the horse…. And so I went In.

                The process went a lot more smoothly and comfortable than what I expected. There was soothing music, a perfect temperature, and a squeezable toy cow  I held while I got my women-ness ripped out of me. The lady could not perform a Brazilian because apparently my skin was much too sensitive. So sensitive, in fact, that they had to use pregnant women wax on me with herbs and my skin still became very agitated. So I settled with a bikini with just a little bit of, as the French say, la raie des fesses (my butt crack for all you non French speakers).When the process was complete I looked down at my new piece of art and smiled. It looked really great! I could finally understand why women did this. I mean, the process was still extremely painful, but this time I was able to take a codeine or two before the ripping began, so I was not as aware to the rippage. The smooth skin lasted for several weeks and even remained soft until then. I was impressed. 

I have not entered a waxing salon since March, although I have thought about it and mentioned it in passing several times to my friends.  I rediscovered NAIR, which made life much easier when I felt like living up my childhood again, but that’s only when the moon turns very, very blue. Until then, I’m fine with what I have. I realized that if I ever wanted to feel young I would finger paint or eat ice cream from the tub.  I am happy with my body being natural and I refuse to give in to the idea that bareness means sexiness. In the end, it’s a body choice. Just like how I choose not to eat meat or I choose to listen in on my neighbors having sex. But, I don’t need to get a Brazilian when I already have the whole Amazon.

Gal Perelman

With summer only around the corner the dreaded bathing suit season is almost upon us.  All over, women are scrambling to find the next super diet that will shed those winter pounds quick and easy.  Many of the super diets have been around for quite awhile and get passed from woman to woman through word of mouth.  The cabbage soup diet seems to be a very old and popular one.  I have been told about this diet from many women ages 18 to 60.  It requires you to eat cabbage soup for about three days, yes, nothing but cabbage soup.  Its purpose you may ask?  I have been told that it jumpstarts your diet.  Now, no woman has ever been able to explain the magical mechanism by which the diet works; however, they all swear by it.  My best guess is that only eating a ton of roughage and broth cleans out the pipes and empties the stomach.  Another popular get thin quick scheme involves a diet of salmon and grapefruit for a couple of weeks.  Nothing but protein and acid, this just does not appeal to me. 

Besides these natural diets there are a slew of diet drugs on the market that are supposed to speed up weight loss.  Since most women forget that bathing suit season is coming until spring is in full effect the fast part is extremely important.  For faster results many women turn to drugs like Hydroxycut, Dexatrim, and Xenadrine.  Now there are drugs that target women specifically like Slim Quick, Estrolean, Tight Fem and Curvelle.  These products are supposed to be formulated just for women.  So why do we do it.  Why are women starving themselves on crazy diets and exposing themselves to range of non FDA approved drugs in order to fit in a bathing suit.  Whenever I go swimming I see a ton of men, gut out, cellulite glistening (yes men have cellulite), and so hairy that they look like they are wearing fur.  At the same time women of all shapes and sizes are hiding behind cover-ups, dresses, towels, shirts; anything to hide their bodies.  I say no more!  This swimsuit season dare to be you.  To bare your body in its “I have been hibernating” all winter glory.  Hey, if you would like to go to the gym and tone up, or just shake off the winter grays go for it!  But refuse to kill yourself worrying about this or that jiggly part.  Don’t starve or expose yourself to various side-effects in the name of the vanity.  Love yourself, be yourself.  And remember only a dog wants a bone.

I’m sure by now that most of you have heard of the popular show on VH1 Rock of Love. The show is very much like the popular show The Bachelor, only with a twist.  The “gorgeous” women compete for the love of one man. If you haven’t heard about the show already, here is a little snippet on what it is all about:

Are you ready to rock, reality TV style? Again? And on a bus? Well, get ready for the third installment of Bret Michaels‘ eternal quest for a rockin’ chick to love, which arrives just in time for the New Year.
This time around, Bret is bringing the women along as he travels America for a month-long solo album tour, Rock My World, to show them what the rock star life has to offer. As Bret rolls into each town in his pimped-out black tour bus, a pink bus filled with beautiful blondes and a blue bus filled with gorgeous brunettes competing for his heart will follow close behind.
In past seasons, Bret made it clear that life on tour with a rock star is not easy and can present unique challenges. So, each time the buses pull into a new city the girls will take on challenges specifically relating to Bret’s life on the road. They may have to greet aggressive groupies with polite smiles, dodge the advances of the warm-up band, or even fill in for mysteriously missing roadies. From ice hockey and Mud Bowl 3 to a sexy dance off and working backstage, the girls get down and dirty, as each one strives to stand out among the rest.
The winner of each challenge will be rewarded with a date showcasing the best of what middle America has to offer–perhaps a toast atop the St. Louis Arch or a romantic picnic in the shadow of the world’s largest chicken. For some, however, the challenges will prove too much and they will have to face eliminations and at least one girl will be left at each stop. Whatever the case may be, these girls will definitely be put to the test to win over Bret and handle the crazy life of a rock star girlfriend. In the end, there is only one VIP pass for Bret’s true Rock of Love.

Now, I can’t say that I am HUGE fan of the show, by any means. But, I do have quite a few girlfriends who watch the show, and because I like to “be in the know,” I try to catch an episode every now and again.
I must say that I was pretty appalled after tuning in to watch the first episode of season 3. Through the first half hour of the show, I just kept thinking “is THIS really what a guy is looking for, is THIS really how a man would want his wife to act, is THIS really want a man would want his wife to look like?” My husband had caught part of the show with me (before he got too grossed out and silently left the room,) so I asked him “babe, you know if that is what men are looking for, you know I could look like that too…dye the hair bleach blond, maybe a few extensions, get the triple D size implants, start shopping in the lingerie store for my every day clothes, etc.” His response was “no that is not what I want you to look like. Not only does that not turn me on, but I wouldn’t be able to take you anywhere outside of the house!”
So, I wondered….is my husband just incredibly different then all of the other men out there? Because apparently THIS is what guys are looking for in a future wife….all F.A.K.E. What do you think guys? Is this what you are looking for? Is this what has become the acceptable standards of beauty today? Or, are shows like this just sending the wrong message of what beauty is?
I realize that you will probably say “oh that is just what Bret likes, you know he is a Rock Star and all, most men don’t like that look at all.” OR “they are just trying to go for the “shock factor” because it is a TV show, and that’s how you get people to tune in.” And yes, I agree that that may all be true. But ask yourselves this… aren’t young impressionable girls watching this show? Is this the message we want to send them…that you have to have bleached hair, fake boobs and hair, and show off your body in order to land a man?
I don’t know about the rest of you, but this scares me. What has happened to natural beauty, or beauty on the inside, or even leaving SOMETHING up to the imagination? If these types of shows are what we are going to see in the future of every day television, then we are in for a rough ride.

Listen up ladies! For those of you who believe that the FDA ensures your medical devices, food and medicines are safe…..you may want to read this!

This article was in the NY Times today.

F.D.A. Scientists Accuse Agency Officials of Misconduct
By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: November 17, 2008

WASHINGTON — Top federal health officials engaged in “serious misconduct” by ignoring concerns of scientists at the Food and Drug Administration and approving for sale unsafe or ineffective medical devices, the scientists have written in a letter to Congress.

The House Committee will investigate the accusations, first aired when eight agency scientists wrote a private letter in May to the F.D.A. commissioner, Andrew C. von Eschenbach.

“These allegations are deeply concerning,” said the committee chairman, Representative John D. Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, “and we intend to uncover whether any F.D.A. activity has compromised the health and safety of American consumers.”

Heidi Rebello, an agency spokeswoman, said, “The F.D.A. will respond directly to the committee’s concerns.”

The letter to Congress, dated Oct. 14, is part of a growing chorus of dissent from what had long been a tight-lipped agency. In decades past, scientists rarely disagreed publicly with their agency’s decisions, and any concerns they had about important decisions were whispered among veterans.

But increasing scrutiny of the agency on Capitol Hill has coincided with a growing willingness by some scientists to voice their misgivings. The disputes tend to pit agency managers, who often lean toward approving drugs or devices when the data are equivocal, against agency scientists, who want more certain trial results before allowing the products to be sold.

Medical devices include products like cardiac stents, nerve stimulators to relieve depression, imaging equipment and breast implants. It is not clear from the publicly released information which device approvals the scientists questioned.

The most recent dispute is unusual if only for the number of doctors and scientists who signed their names to the May letter. Previous disagreements involved at most a few agency scientists. Mr. Dingell and Representative Bart Stupak, another Michigan Democrat, released the letter sent to Congress on Oct. 14 but blacked out the scientists’ names and some crucial details the scientists did not want disclosed.

The letter says that the scientists have documentary evidence that senior agency managers “corrupted the scientific review of medical devices” by ordering experts to change their opinions and conclusions in violation of the law.

Dr. von Eschenbach asked William McConagha, the agency’s assistant commissioner for integrity and accountability, to investigate the accusations, the letter states. Mr. McConagha characterized the documentary evidence supporting the accusations as “compelling” and sufficient to justify disciplinary actions, it says.

Mr. McConagha may have recommended the removal of certain agency managers, Mr. Dingell and Mr. Stupak said.

But a top agency manager, after conducting his own investigation, concluded that the dissidents should “move forward,” and he decided against taking any curative or disciplinary action growing out of the dissidents’ complaints, the letter states. Instead, the letter says, the manager has allowed the dissidents to become victims of reprisals by agency managers.

The letter further says that Congress should consider reforming a process in which, the scientists say, the F.D.A. agrees to approve complex medical devices on the basis of little evidence of effectiveness.

As most you know, today is my one year explant anniversary. To read more about my story, please see the October 22nd post.  As promised, here is what the last year has been like and here is where I am today.

My road to recovery was not easy. The damage was done; the chemicals from the ruptured implant had already gotten into my blood, my lymph system, my organs, my tissues. I found out pretty quickly that there is no “regular” course of treatment for this kind of thing. I was told to eat right, drink lots of water, make sure my body gets the proper vitamins, get plenty of sleep, take all existing chemicals out of my life, keep my stress level down, and sit in a sauna when I could to help detoxify the chemicals. There were times over the last year that I thought I’d never get better.  I’d have weeks at a time where I thought I was recovering, then a month when I could barely get out of bed. I had many many setbacks throughout this time.  Did I want to give up at times? Yes! What got me through…..the strong desire to want to recover & get my life back, and friends that were going through the same thing. There were so many women that gave me strength, hope and good advice to get me through the tough times.

Here I am one year later and I must say that I am a completely different woman then I was one year ago. I’ve returned to my old self, my old life, back to regular health. I do have some lasting effects, unfortunately. They are…..the swollen lymph nodes that never returned to normal, occasional unusual fatigue, brain fog and overall body aches, chronic pain from inverted ribs (from the weight of the implants in my chest wall,) chronic pain in my chest muscle, and my scars that will forever remind me of a lesson that I had to learn on my own. I still have to be careful about how much energy I exert in a days time. I can no longer plan a full days worth of activities like I used to. I still get tired easily and need more rest then I did prior to this illness. I am thankful that my lasting effects are manageable and that I am still able to lead a normal life.

After all this, I am FINALLY realizing and accepting that I am beautiful with or without big breasts, and that big breasts are not what make a woman beautiful. It has taken a lot for me to get to this point. Sure, I still carry a lot of anger and sadness, but mostly I am mad at myself for choosing to put my body through this.  I am mad that I missed out on precious time in my young life due to this illness.  But I know that throughout this ordeal that I have learned so much about myself; as this illness has truly made me look inward to see the woman I am on the inside, instead of focusing on what I looked like on the outside for so long, this has truly been a humbling experience.

I am trying to just look at this as a life lesson, an expensive and painful life lesson…..but nonetheless a life lesson. Part of me of course misses the implants; I’m not going to lie to you. When I look down I do get a little sad, and I do indeed miss the implants at times.  But, I had wanted big breasts for so long and then when I had them, deep down I was still painfully aware that I still didn’t have them, that they were never really “mine,” what I had was a man made object in each breast making the illusion that I had big breasts.  Sure I wish that God had been a little more generous in the “boobie department,” but the other things in my life that have been given to me far outweigh having large breasts.

I’m not going to preach to every woman I meet to never to get implants, or to have them removed if you already have them. I know that everyone has to make the decision for herself, and I more then respect others’ opinions. I’m not totally against plastic surgery, I’m not some crazed feminist…I am a young, regular American woman, just like you.  I am merely telling my story because I think every woman deserves to know and hear the truth; women like me have been silenced for too long. I believe there is too much money behind the breast implant industry, too many people biasing all the information out there, and I believe that every woman deserves to hear the truth. Every woman needs to make an informed decision before getting breast implants, and I am merely trying to make sure that every woman gets that information to be truly informed.

As reported here a young woman, age 35 dies of complications due to breast augmentation surgery.  It is sad that we are so fixated on the search for what we might think is the perfect body when in reality, we had it all along.   

SHE was unhappy with her figure, so she went for breast enlargement. But two years on, Ms Wang Xiaobin decided she might have overdone things.

DIED IN VAIN: Ms Wang never got to enjoy her new figure after her surgery. –PICTURE: THE SUN

Her new breasts were too large, she felt.

Worse, they were uneven in size, and not as pert as she would like, reported Hong Kong newspaper The Sun.

In the quest for that perfect cup size, she decided to go under the knife again - this time, for breast reduction.

The plan was to remove the original implants and replace them with smaller ones.

Would this be the perfect pair?

Ms Wang never found out.

The 35-year-old Hong Kong permanent resident died about a week after the operation.

She stopped breathing during the surgery and could not be revived despite repeated attempts by hospital staff.

Ms Wang was originally from Sichuan, China.

She split up with her ex-husband some years ago, and had been living in both Hong Kong and mainland China since.

Concerned with looks

Ms Wang’s ex-husband said that she had been very concerned with her looks and her figure.

She took medication and tried various methods to lose weight.

She also had plastic surgery done to her nose, and to give her double eyelids.

Ms Wang did not tell her family about these operations until they were over.

This final, fatal surgery was no different.

The Sun reported that according to her family, Ms Wang originally had a 81cm bust measurement.

In 2006, she went to a clinic in mainland China for breast enlargement, increasing her bustline to around 86 or 89cm.

She celebrated by having studio pictures taken to show off her new look.

But some months ago, she started telling family members that her breasts were too hard.

On 14 Oct, without telling her friends on family, she went to a clinic to have the implants replaced.

According to medical records, she went under anaesthetic for the operation, which took place in the morning.

But when the surgery was completed, the doctor discovered that her face was turning purple, and her heart had stopped.

She needed a machine to help her breathe, and did not regain consciousness.

Her ex-husband was informed at 6pm, and she was transferred to a hospital for emergency treatment.

A hospital spokesman said that by the time she was admitted, she was already in a very dangerous condition.

Despite their best efforts, she was declared dead on 23 Oct.

beth

Announcing the DVD release of “Absolutely Safe” …because every woman has the right to make an informed decision about her body. Exclusively available through Alive Mind Media on DVD November 4th.

New York, NY, October 24, 2008 –(PR.com)– Every year more than 250,000 teenagers and women choose breast implants, yet fewer voices than ever seem to be asking “Why?” And fewer still are asking “Are they safe?” The debut release of filmmaker Carol Ciancutti-Leyva, “Absolutely Safe” takes an open-minded, personal approach to the controversy over breast implant safety. Ultimately, “Absolutely Safe” is the story of everyday women who find themselves and their breasts in the tangled and confusing intersection of beauty and business.

“Absolutely Safe” is driven by the experience of the filmmaker’s own mother. Diagnosed with breast tumors, Audrey Ciancutti underwent a double mastectomy with silicone-implant reconstruction surgery. A year later, her implants ruptured, and soon after, her health steadily declined. Like thousands of other women, Audrey believes her debilitating illnesses—joint pain, chronic fatigue, scleroderma– are linked to her breast implants; however, most doctors and researchers deny this link. Among the debate by plastic surgeons, toxicologists, attorneys, implant manufacturers, whistle blowers, government officials and activists, “Absolutely Safe” introduces more women like Audrey who make choices about their breasts without being informed of the potential risks.

Even though the FDA recently lifted its restrictions on silicone implants and approved them for wide-scale use, many serious questions remain regarding breast implant safety. “Absolutely Safe” reveals that the conversation on implant safety is far more complex than mere health issues. Rather, the real question is how women can make informed decisions in a culture that equates female value with conformity to a synthetic ideal, and sexuality with large breasts. “Absolutely Safe” presents the personal stories of women who chose implants. “[’Absolutely Safe’] is the perfect antidote to ads and TV shows that now routinely mislead women into thinking that these devices have been proven to be safe.”–Judy Norsigian, co-author and Executive Director, Our Bodies Ourselves

Alive Mind is the exclusive home video distributor of “Absolutely Safe,” a personal journey by Mrs. Ciancutti-Leyva to bring awareness to women’s health and rights; because every woman has the right to make an informed decision about her body. This release will be available in November 2008.

About Our Bodies, Ourselves
Our Bodies Ourselves (OBOS) is a nonprofit, public interest women’s health education, advocacy, and consulting organization. Beginning in 1970 with the publication of the first edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves, OBOS has inspired the women’s health movement by: Producing books that make accurate health and medical information accessible to a broad audience by weaving women’s stories into a framework of practical, clearly written text; Identifying and collaborating with exemplary individuals and organizations that provide services, generate research and policy analysis, and organize for social change; Inspiring and empowering women to become engaged in the political aspects of sustaining good health for themselves and their communities. For more information visit Our Bodies Ourselves at www.ourbodiesourselves.org/

About Alive Mind
Alive Mind releases on DVD and digitally specialty documentary programming in the areas of new consciousness, rational spirituality, and cultural transformation. Launched by industry pioneer Richard Lorber, Alive Mind seeks out intellectually provocative work from leading filmmakers – media content that delivers the “aha” response of a transformative experience. To advance discussion of issues related to our films, Alive Mind hosts Alive Mind Woman, where you will find open discussion about issues ranging from the decision not to have children to how to earn more money without selling your soul. AliveMindWoman.com hosts blogs for some of today’s most stimulating thinkers, filmmakers and activists including Ariel Gore, Carol Ciancutti-Leyva, and Jennifer Fox.

Visit them online at www.alivemind.net

Video Information:
“Absolutely Safe”
Price: $24.98
Genre: Documentary
Availability: Worldwide
Running Time: 83 minutes
Technical Aspects: 4:3, NTSC Region 0
Language: English

It has almost been one year since my breast implant explant. I’ve recently been doing a lot of reflecting on the past two years of my life, and thought I’d share a little bit here.

For those of you that don’t know me, I got my saline implants in 2003. Like most everyone else who gets them, I was tired of being flat-chested, tired of being jealous of other girls’ naturally large breasts, tired of figuring out how to wear dresses, bikinis, and strapless tops without tons of padding, and tired of feeling like I couldn’t get a date because my breasts were so small. I was never interested in showing off my implants, or becoming something I wasn’t, I just wanted to be proportionate.

Unfortunately, even after the augmentation, I still felt like things weren’t “right.” I could never put my finger on it because I wanted to keep those things so dang much! But looking back on it today, I realize that it wasn’t “right” because the reality of it was that I had placed two large foreign objects in my chest that did not belong. Though, I liked being able to fill out bikinis, strapless dresses, pretty lace bras, etc., there were too many other things I didn’t like.

For one thing, without clothes on my breasts did not look natural, they were two very round, grapefruit-like balls on my chest. Natural breasts have a feminine shape, mine no longer did. I also had problems with rippling, because I did not have a lot of breast tissue to begin with, I had ripples on the bottom and sides and of my breasts when I bent over….not very pretty. It was also difficult meeting new people; I knew they wondered “are they real?” Most would guess they were not because they did not fit my body, they didn’t move like natural breasts, they were too round, too high on my chest, etc. I never knew what to say “oh by the way, no they aren’t real.” Each time I’d go to the pool or other times I needed to wear a bikini, I was always self-conscious. People would stare at me and I could see it in their eyes…… “nice fake boobs.” My new boobs were supposed to give me self-confidence, and in reality….they were doing the opposite! However, I was willing to overlook all of that because like I said, I wanted to keep them.

Then in March of 2007, I woke up one morning and my left implant had ruptured. Within a week, I began feeling ill. I did not associate the illness with the rupture at the time; I mean…they are just saline, right? I had the implant replaced and hoped to get on with my life. However, the breast never quite felt right after that…I had ongoing pain that did not go away, and it felt like my implant was made of sandpaper inside my chest wall…not very comfortable. My unexplained illness continued to worsen to the point of almost having to quit my job. I had excruciating pain on the left side of my body, horrible fatigue and brain fog, extreme sensitivity, dizziness, hair loss, nerve pain, a chronic cough, terrible body aches, EXTREME swollen lymph nodes, etc. I lived like this for 8 months, going from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what was wrong; I had every test done known to man. I was later referred to a specialist where I found out that it was the implant that had ruptured that was causing me these problems. My body tested for extreme amounts of 4 toxic chemicals. I had nearly 100 times more of these chemicals in my body then the average woman, my age, living in my population. The only explanation the doctors could come up was the implant rupture. I later found out that the implants which I thought were made of salt water are actually encased in a silicone shell, the same toxic ingredients that are in regular silicone implants.

To be honest, I still wasn’t ready to have the implants taken out for good. I began my research of trying to find others like me. After some digging, I was amazed, stunned and shocked at what I found. There were so many stories out there of women who had come down with similar symptoms as mine, have implants (both saline and silicone,) whose health either returned after explantation or significantly improved. There were just too many for me to call it a coincidence.

Should I have known all of this before getting implants? Should I have known that there were sick women? Probably. But as a lot of women can deeply understand and attest to, when you have gone your life having small breasts, you will do just about anything to enlarge them. Reading about all the problems and issues out there just isn’t an option, because then you might talk yourself out of it, and that REALLY isn’t an option. You tend to look for the success stories and that is what you focus on. Plus, it is a lot more difficult to find issues with implants then it is to find information on all the wonderful things they will do for your self esteem, body image, etc. Who has the money for advertising……sick women or implant manufacturers and plastic surgeons? I decided then that the implants must come out for good. I wasn’t willing to take the chance of leaving them in my body and risking another rupture. I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life and had them removed on November 9, 2007.

Please stay tuned, as I will write about my road to recovery and where I am today on my official ONE YEAR anniversary explant date!

I found this article posted at Truth in Aging.com a few days ago. I found it interesting that a woman who has nothing to lose in saying whether silicone is safe or unsafe had so many negative things to say about silicone. Personally, I am tired of hearing over and over that is silicone is safe from plastic surgeons, implant manufacturers and others that have something to lose if the truth comes out that silicone is actually UNsafe. Silicone is toxic! And, just for the record, silicone is in the shell of a saline implant, so don’t think just because you have saline implants that you are safe. Read on!

Encouraged by an email exchange with Stan, I spent the last few days researching silicones. They crop up in many shampoos, conditioners and moisturizers (as well as breast implants), with aliases such as dimethicone, hydroxypropyldimethicone or amodimethicone. The claims made about silicones are starkly black or white: they are good for you or they are very bad for you. Since both statements are unlikely to be simultaneously true, some Truth In Aging perspective is needed.

Before we go into what is true or false, it is worth knowing that silicone is either an organic or inorganic polymer. And a polymer is made up of many molecules strung together. Depending on the structure of how these molecules link up, polymers could be soft and bouncy, rock hard or gooey and gel-like. Hence, different silicones can play different roles in cosmetics.

Silicones build up on the hair causing it to be dull and heavy - true or false?

This depends on the silicone. Cyclopentasiloxane (CPS), for example, is water-thin so it’s very good at dispersing thicker, greasier silicones. For this reason it’s often used in combination with dimethicone. It is also volatile, which means it will evaporate. So, not only does it help spread heavier silicones, but it doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down after it’s done.

Silicones will make your hair fall out - true or false?

The theory is that silicone in shampoos and conditioners builds up on the hair and deprives the shaft of oxygen with the result that hair falls out. This appears to be untrue. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology says: “Silicone-based conditioners, such as dimethicone, are one of the newest agents that aid in smoothing the cuticle and increasing hair smoothness and luster. The silicone is left behind following water rinsing of the shampoo as a thin coating over each individual hair shaft to fill in visible defects in the hair cuticle.Probably the most important aspect of hair cosmesis is combing ease. Increased hair friction snags the hair as the comb is drawn for grooming purposes, resulting in hair breakage. This is the most common cause of significant hair loss in normal patients, patients with dandruff, and patients afflicted with female pattern hair loss. Compatibility of the hair can be increased by smoothing the cuticle and coating each individual hair shaft with an agent to decrease friction. Silicone fulfills this need.”

Some people are allergic to silicone - true or false?

I’ve seen quite a few people remark on online message boards that they are allergic to ‘cones. This is mostly likely to be false and they are allergic to some other ingredient (perhaps a preservative). Unlike many preservatives that are known irritants, countless tests have been conducted with silicones that have concluded that they do not cause allergic reactions. Having said that, unmodified silicones stay on or near the surface of the skin. Not only are the molecules too big to physically enter past the upper living cells, they associate with the upper layer of drying skin but they also cannot penetrate cell membranes due to their large size. In some ways that is a good thing, however, they may be preventing stuff - sweat - from getting out. There have been some recent studies that show that prolonged exposure of the skin to sweat that can’t escape causes irritation.

Silicones can cause cancer - true or false?

This question came to head when women with silicone breast implants made an association with leakage of the gel and subsequent development of cancer cells. This is where things really get black and white. The evidence for whites (silicone does not cause cancer) looks to be compelling. Until, that is, you come to the realization that the evidence is based on research carried out decades ago. The most quoted is the most problematic. It was conducted by Dow Chemical (maker of silicone) on one group of rats, just after the Second World War.

I also came across a reference to a review of 123 reports on cyclic polydimethlsiloxanes (D3, D4, D5, and D6). The review concluded: “These compounds are volatile and potentially of concern in manufacturing; however, they also are used in consumer products, such as hair sprays, and are found in breast implants, although in very low amounts (see Chapter 3). They are practically nontoxic on ingestion, dermal application, or inhalation, although they are mildly irritating when placed directly on the skin or in the eyes. Subacute gavage studies showed that these compounds had no untoward effect other than a reversible increase in liver weight due to increases in both cell number and cell size at doses ranging up to 2,000 mg/kg. Skin application did not cause toxicity; however, some D5 penetrates the skin.”

I was about to breath a sigh of relief until I discovered that the  reports were all 40 years old.

And then I found this: according to research gathered by attorney Richard Alexander, of the Alexander Law Firm in San Jose, California, Dow Chemical and Dow Corning have been aware of the toxic effects of silicone and silica since the 1950s, based on their own studies, but never published the data. They knew these substances were bioreactive, immunogenic, toxic, and inflammatory when introduced into the human body, states Alexander. (Update on Breast Implants,January 1998, website: http://consumerlawpage.com.)

“Silicone degrades into silica, usually at the surface of the gel implant, then fragments and subdivides into millions of microdroplets capable of migrating throughout the body” (according to PSC Records No. 1352, 7017. These are documents produced by Dow Corning in national litigation. Silica in the body is a toxic, carcinogenic substance, damaging the immune system, killing cells, and producing silicosis.

Silicone is toxic - true or false?

True, I’m afraid. The Journal of Toxicology reported that silicone injections led to multi-organ failure. Research collected by the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee (PSC) for the National Breast Implant Litigation shows that silicone has marked effects on the adrenal glands and liver, induces chronic inflammation, and degrades into smaller molecules, including silica. Silicone fed to rabbits produced widespread toxic effects including kidney and spleen damage within four months. (Stanford Medical Bulletin, 10:1 [1952], 23-26.) “That silicone is toxic in both animals and man is well proven“, stated John S. Sergent, M.D., and colleagues in Textbook of Rheumatology (W.B. Saunders Company, 1993).

OK, but I am not injecting or ingesting silicones and I have the breasts that God gave me, so I am not in any real danger - true or false?
This is a bit trickier and enters a realm dappled with shades of grey. If the silicone molecules are too large to enter the surface of the skin and, as is the case with cyclopentasiloxane (in vitro tests show that less than 2% penetrates the skin), it evaporates quickly, then there probably isn’t too much to fear from your shampoo or moisturizer. On the other hand, silicones can help some ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively. Dow Corning sites some research with silicone and hydroquinone in which  “the silicone gum induced the formation of a reservoir of hydrocortisone in the stratum corneum“.

In the same paper, Dow Corning becomes at best ambiguous about the safety of topical silicones. It cites tests on rats that led to enlarged livers and testicular cancer. But then says, without any back-up, “this effect is not applicable to humans” - provided that the silicone “was allowed to evaporate”.

But silicones have some benefit or there wouldn’t be so much of it in my bathroom - true or false?

Largely false. Even those that are described as “skin conditioning” or “conditioning agents” are entirely superficial and temporary, imparting a silky, feel-good factor, but without actually doing anything at the cellular level. There is an argument that silicones protect you from other nasties, such as hair from pollution. Hmm, but at what cost?

Silicones that you can expect to see in cosmetics and hair care:

Dimethicone (also called Polydimethylsiloxane), Methicone, Amino Bispropyl Dimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Amodimethicone Hydroxystearate, Behenoxy Dimethicone, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, C24-28 Alkyl Dimethicone, C30-45 Alkyl Methicone, Cetearyl Methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Dimethoxysilyl Ethylenediaminopropyl Dimethicone, Hexyl Methicone, Hydroxypropyldimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethicone, Stearoxy Dimethicone, Stearyl Methicone, Stearyl Dimethicone and Vinyl Dimethicone.

Honestly ladies, what more do you need to know, what more do you need to hear? Your implants might not be causing you any problems now, but down the road as the implant degrades, you will have MAJOR health problems on your hands. There are just too many of us who are sick, fighting with our health to call in a coincidence. Silicone is a toxic substance and should NEVER be implanted into the human body.

This article if from the blog Back in skinny jeans. The article is written by a man named, Nathan who recounts a recent dinner date with a female friend by the name of Julie.

Recently, pal Julie and I got together for dinner at some fancy restaurant downtown. To give you a visual, Julie has a stereotypical California girl look; blond, blue eyes, Hollywood thin, complimented with medically enhanced D sized breasts, and Botox smooth skin. Julie is extremely bright, but has always been consumed with her exterior appearance.

After looking over the menu, I ordered chicken and a side of mixed vegetables. Pretty healthy I thought. Julie had the famous, skinny girl salad. I personally had no lunch that day so I was of course extremely hungry.

When the food finally came to our table, I started eating immediately. About two minutes into my meal, I feel Julie’s stare as I dig into my chicken. Being polite, I asked her if she would like some of my chicken. I thought why else would someone stare at me while I was eating.

With a confused and almost disgusted look, Julie says to me, “You eat the skin on the chicken.”

I realize there is high fat content in chicken skin, however, I do not see the need to surgically remove every morsel of skin from every bite. I mean, I eat some skin and pull off the rest. I like some chicken skin and don’t see the big deal in moderation. Her comment though leads us into an elongated discussion about the fat content of chicken skin.

After about five minutes of hearing Julie go on and on about the unhealthiness of chicken skin and about the importance of healthy eating, I look her in the eye and say, “Julie, in all seriousness, you are arguing with me about the fat in chicken skin when you have inserted silicon filled plastic bags into your breasts, and then injected botulism into your eye brows. I highly doubt that chicken skin has anywhere near the health risks.”

Julie just stared at me…again.

This time however, although I was some what blunt, Julie could not argue with my logic. My point wasn’t to be mean but to point out perspective. Initially, she was a bit offended by my bluntness, however, we eventually laughed at the hypocrisy.

Julie is so infatuated with being skinny, and achieving the Maxim magazine image, that she does not see what truly makes her attractive. I wish she could see what I see, her personality and the little things that make her unique. I personally think she looked better natural with a few more pounds. I don’t see where she needs to implant anything.

Ladies, men like healthy looking women and to us that does not mean you have to get implants, Botox, or starve yourself. We like you to enjoy food. If you want to meet the man of your dreams and live happily ever after, be yourself. Eat the chicken skin. Trust me; a little chicken skin will not turn off any man worth keeping.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard men saying that the “fake barbie” look is not what is attractive to them. Men like “real” women, real women have curves, wrinkles, average sized breasts, etc. I think it is about time us women take a real, long hard look at what is beautiful….is beautiful fake, hard and plastic, or natural, soft and feminine?