Myrl Jeffcoat myrlj@jps.net

22 mars, 2005 10:27

Follow-up Studies by Plastic Surgeons
on Patients Receiving Silicone implants Ended Too Soon

Because plastic surgeons on only occasionally track their patients’ recovery beyond a short time after surgery—more than a year or two is uncommon—many of those surgeons who used silicone-gel implants never knew that some of their patients developed silicone-related disorders later on.

Additionally, in all the years that silicone implants have been used, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (the primary professional organization for board-certified plastic surgeons) completed few surveys to ascertain patient satisfaction with implants. Based on their findings in one specific survey, they claimed—and aggressively publicized—a higher than 90 percent happiness level, according to their promotional materials. The data was obtained via a questionnaire mailed to women one, two, and three years following implantation of their prostheses. In one USF study, however, the average woman developed the onset of silicone disease symptoms about 4 ˝ years after implantation. Thus, the findings of the Plastic Surgeon’s Society did not address the medical condition of silicone recipients at the more critical times of 5 to 10 years postoperatively and were therefore incomplete. In contrast, a long-term prospective study is still sorely needed to demonstrate implants’ safety and their effects on the health of recipients. [pages 20-21 – retyped from “The Silicone Breast Implant Controversy by Frank Vasey MD, and Josh Feldstein}