The PIP Silicone Breast Implant Scare

Photo: Reuters

What Happened:

In January 2012, authorities found that French breast implant manufacturer PIP used industrial grade silicone (illegal) instead of the medical grade silicone that is approved for breast implant use. The findings came after about 1,000 women in France and Europe experienced implant ruptures, placing their implant failure rate several times higher than what is normal. Officials believe that between 30,000 to 50,000 women throughout Europe may have received these PIP silicone breast implants.

Who Is Safe?

Women who received silicone breast implants in the United States do NOT have a chance of having received these implants, as PIP has never distributed implants in the USA. European women who have received silicone implants from manufacturers aside from PIP are also not affected.

What To Do If You Received Or Suspect You Received PIP Implants:

First, confirm what kind of implant you have with your surgeon if you don't already know.

To be on the safe side, several medical agencies in European countries (including France and the U.K.) are recommending that women have PIP silicone implants removed as a precaution, even if you show or feel no symptoms of a rupture. Ruptures are often silent, and are not always detected on imaging software. Please see further below for a special message to U.K. women.

How To Make Sure Something Like This Doesn't Happen To You:

Know exactly what manufacturer your breast implants are coming from before you get a breast augmentation. Ask your surgeon for all implant details - manufacturer, fill type, and cc amount. This information should never be a mystery or surprise to you. Doing your homework helps keep you safe.

Only hire a board-certified plastic surgeon, whose first priority is patient safety, and who will only work with a manufacturer who has passed all testing and safety requirements.

Mentor Corporation and Allergan are two of the most trusted breast implant brands in the industry. If your surgeon recommends a different brand, do your Google research and consult with the aesthetic governing agency of your country if need be to double check that the breast implants are from a reputable company.

A Message For Women In The U.K. Who Have Received PIP Silicone Breast Implants:

"Authoritative new professional and patient guidance for all women who have received a PIP breast implant has been released today (Tuesday, 17 Jan 2012) by the professional bodies representing surgeons. The new guidance provides patients with practical advice on what to expect and their rights, indicates to GPs where to refer different groups of patient and advises surgeons on treatment.

Joint statement from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS):

The guidance goes beyond current government advice aimed at patients with symptoms to give additional practical advice for the majority of patients who do not.

Key points include:

- All patients should be able to have an assessment by a surgeon regardless of whether they have symptoms.

- If a patient requests removal - they should expect to get this, regardless of the presence of any symptoms. If a patient wants time to make up their minds this should be respected - surgery to remove implants must not be a time-limited "take it or leave it" offer.

- Scans should only be used as a tool to assist patients make a decision and only take place after the patient has had a consultation with a surgeon. Scanning alone is not a reliable enough tool for detecting failure rates in breast implants.

- Reaffirms the surgical association's view that all clinics have an ethical and moral duty of care to offer these patients treatment without charge.

- Advice to GPs on where to refer patients with different symptoms to ensure they get most appropriate treatment.

The document, Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) Breast Implants: Joint surgical statement on Clinical Guidance for Patients, GPs and Surgeons has been jointly endorsed by the Association of Breast Surgery, British Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgeons, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Federation of Surgical Speciality Associations and the Royal College of Surgeons."

Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid Of A Breast Augmentation

Usually, the one thing holding women back from getting the breast augmentation they've always wanted is FEAR.

It's exceedingly common to be afraid of many things, some of which are:

-the surgery/anesthesia
-pain and recovery
-potential complications
-getting a bad boob job
-needing more surgery down the road

But there's good news. One factor - the plastic surgeon you choose - can basically wipe that whole slate of fears clean if you make an excellent choice.

That means finding a surgeon who is board-certified, has numerous before and after photos showing his/her beautiful aesthetic skills and abilities, takes the time to give you personal attention and care, listens to what you have to say, as well as your fears and concerns, and operates a first-rate and spotlessly clean facility with a board-certified anesthesiologist and friendly staff.

In fact, if you hire a good surgeon, a breast augmentation is one of the most routine and safest cosmetic surgeries you can have.

The crucial sticking point? You've got to do your homework, and pick the right plastic surgeon.

Slap Your Way To Bigger Breasts?

Over at AOL Stylelist, Dana Oliver profiles an "all natural" way to increase the size of your breasts out of Bangkok, Thailand: the art of breast slapping.

[Please note: I am NOT recommending this.]

The beautician who founded the method - 44 year-old Khemmikka Na Songkhla -  says the technique of slapping, kneading and massaging fat around the breast area was passed down to her from her grandmother.

A modest inch to two inch increase in size can be seen after the treatment, which clients say they are pleased with, as an alternative to cosmetic surgery.

You can check out the story and video here.

What do you think? Crazy or clever?

What To Know About Breast Augmentation

 

Photo: ninjadude.com

Today, I'm featuring a guest post by Cindy Roten, who has some great insight on what you need to know if you're thinking about getting a breast augmentation. Enjoy!

-Grace 

What To Know About Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation raises a number of very important questions for the person considering it. 

If you're the surgery, you'll want to know which surgeon to pick, which specific procedure is best for you, and, most importantly, what your breasts will look like once the surgery has been performed. 

Fortunately, online sources like www.AboutPlasticSurgery.com are chock full of info that can answer many of your most common questions.

In the meantime, however, here are a few things to know before heading in to meet with your surgeon. 

• First, you should know (because many people don't realize it) that breast augmentation is not only about enlarging breasts. These days, surgeons can reduce and enlarge breasts, re-shape, even out or reconstruct them. So, while you probably already know which of these types of procedures you would like done, you may want to consider the range of options available to you.

• Today, your breast augmentation does not have to depend on guesswork. Not long ago, it was up to a woman and her doctor to decide what size and shape to aim for in the surgery, and the result would not be previewed before surgery. However, while it is obviously impossible to get a completely literal preview of what your breasts will look like following surgery, there are tools available now that allow women to view very close approximations of what their new breasts will look like. These sizing indicators can be very helpful in ensuring that you're thrilled with your results.

• You'll also want to carefully consider the recovery phase before undergoing a breast augmentation surgery, so that you can plan around it. It's not as simple as having an operation, removing the bandages, and going about your day. You will likely need to be inactive for a period of time (typically anywhere from 5 to 10 days depending on what procedures you have done). Whatever the case, it is of vital importance that you follow your surgeon’s directions for recovery, to make sure that your breasts heal correctly, and you end up with the beautiful results you want.

There is plenty of information available on the Internet if you want to know more, or if you have specific questions about your breast augmentation surgery. However, these few basic points should help to get you started. The good news is, breast augmentation today is a very precise surgery, and if you make the right decisions, it should go exactly the way you want it to.

The Future Of Breast Augmentation

Photo: hq-celebrity.com

Over at the My Life In Beauty blog, "The Knife Coach" Wendy Lewis and Dr. Z. Paul chat about the newest procedures in breast augmentation, and what the future may hold.

The focus is on 'fat grafting breast augmentation' - which is also known as 'fat transfer breast augmentation,' a method that is still very much in experimental phases, and which I've covered as a feature story on AOL StyleList.

Because so much is still unknown in this arena, I wouldn't personally recommend that you consider for your breast augmentation today (unless of course you're a reconstruction patient, where the circumstances are different) - but it could be something that develops and grows into a more 'natural' option for all breast augmentation patients sometime in the near future.

Breast Augmentation: A Reader Speaks Out

Today, I'm excited to feature a guest post by Constance, a reader who has overcome her fears and reservations about surgery, and gone on to have a breast augmentation that she loves. Here's her story.

-Grace 

Photo: BreastAugmentationSite.com 

My Boob Job: Making The Decision

I had been toying with the idea of getting a breast augmentation for at least 20 years before I finally decided to go for it!

But I didn't always think I would get a boob job. When I was a teenager, I decided firmly against getting any enhancements - even though I was always self-conscious about my smaller B cup. Then I went to college in California, land of the beautiful bodies.

I continued to think about getting larger breasts. This went on for years, and through two marriages. I always felt less than adequate inside.

But then, I had a huge A-HA moment. I was having lunch with my best friend and an acquaintance of hers. At one point, this woman said to me, "I used to be as flat as you before I got my boob job." 

Well, I decided right then and there that no one was going to call me flat again!

(Why are women so sensitive and take it so much more personally when other women critique their appearance, than when other men do? But that's a whole other topic...)

Anyway, I finally made the decision to just do it! 

I was approaching 40, and had just been through a rough divorce, and wanted to start my new life with a new body. Not only did I want the breast augmentation, I was also interested in getting a tummy tuck. I had had two Caesarian sections for the birth of my daughters, and no amount of sit-ups would tighten my tummy pouch.

Now came the difficult decision of choosing the right doctor. I went with Dr. Christine Stiles and her specialty Mommy Makeover, so I could get a breast augmentation and tummy tuck at the same time. Dr. Stiles is a female plastic surgeon in Frisco, Texas, where I reside. It was really important for me personally to select a woman surgeon, because it made me feel more comfortable and at ease.

I'm thrilled with my results, and only wish I had done it sooner!

Lady Gaga Wants Breast Augmentation

Photo: mirror.co.uk

Lady Gaga is lusting for a new accessory, and this time, we're not talking a fire cracker bra or or meat dress.

The pop star was overheard telling a waitress in New York that she was having a serious case of boob job envy while enjoying dinner with her beau, Luc Carl, reports the Daily Star UK.

"I love your boobs! Are they real? I really want to get implants too, I love fake boobs," Gaga allegedly told the waitress. But the platinum blonde had some reservations. "I'm not sure how Luc would feel about me getting my boobs made bigger," added the star.

This actually brings up a great point that readers looking to get a boob job often complain to me about: boyfriends and husbands who aren't down with the idea, and aren't supportive. It can be really upsetting when your man doesn't stand behind a major (and exciting) decision like getting a breast augmentation.

It's confusing, isn't it? Here you are, wanting to look your best -- and chances are, you probably take good care of yourself -- eat well, workout, dress well -- as many breast augmentation patients tend to do, because they're concerned with looking their best. Shouldn't a man be proud to have a woman who takes care of herself as a partner?

The thing is, breast implants cause any insecurities that a man has to boil to the surface -- because many fear that a pair of new boobs is going to be followed by an upgrade in a new man too. You can allay these type of fears with a sit-down chat about how the only that will be changing will be your boobs -- not your relationship. Just talking about it could be all the comfort he needs to get on board with the idea.

Other times, a guy can just be worried about your safety. There are boob job horror stories all over the internet, newspapers and television -- and many people mistakenly believe it's a dangerous surgery with risky complications and unattractive results. Nothing could be further from the truth of course if you do all your research and make the right choices, but people don't know that. If this is the case with your man, let him know that you've done all the research, and show him pictures of the kind of results you're going for. People don't always realize that boob jobs come in more than just one size and shape -- and when he sees that you've hired a great surgeon and have a specific final look in mind, he'll probably relax and maybe even become your cheerleader.

And more rarely, the issue could be that your man is just a boob about boob jobs -- and an underlying cause like jealousy or controlling behavior that is reflected in other areas of the relationship too comes to a head. In this case, you'll want to consider cleaning up or moving past the relationship before you get involved with a breast augmentation -- so that you're in a healthy, positive and happy state of mind before you make such a major decision.

And if you're looking for support, don't hesitate to reach out to me. My contact info is on my blog bio page.

xoxo

Grace