Re: Memphis Flyer story/To Colleen

[Guest guest]

- Colleen, How are you?? What an EXCELLENT article. Thank you so

much for taking your time and effort to do it!! I am so glad this

article did NOT 'play down the truth' of how sick one can get. I

have been thinking about you, and wondering how you were doing! I

hope you are improving. Thought and prayers. Hugs and health

TERRY/

-- In , " colleenfortner "

<cfortner@e...> wrote:

> Here's the article from the Memphis Flyer...Patty, if you want me

to

> mail you a paper, let me know...thanks, Colleen

>

>

>

> An Imperfect Solution

> Saline breast implants are touted as a safe alternative to

silicone.

>

> Bianca | 8/13/2004

>

> In 1997, when Colleen McKenzie was 19, she had a breast

augmentation

> procedure performed by the Memphis Plastic Surgery Group. She was

> told that her new saline-filled implants were perfectly safe.

>

> Three years later, McKenzie began experiencing fainting spells,

> extreme fatigue, muscle and body aches, and fever. Her vision

blurred

> and she had to start wearing glasses. She suffered from depression

> and memory loss and had to take a leave of absence from her job as

an

> art director for Idex Creative Marketing. She went from doctor to

> doctor for months, but none could give her an accurate diagnosis.

A

> rheumatologist told her that her illness was imaginary and

suggested

> she see a psychiatrist.

>

> In 2001, McKenzie met Dr. Shanklin, a pathologist at the

> University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a leader in

> research linking saline implants to silicone poisoning. Saline

> implants are filled with a saltwater solution, but the liquid is

> encased in a silicone shell. Shanklin's studies indicate that the

> silicone casing can cause the same kind of damage as a silicone-

> filled implant. Shanklin diagnosed McKenzie with siliconosis, a

> disease caused by too much silicone in the body. He said

McKenzie's

> symptoms were the same as those experienced by women with silicone

> implants. Lawsuits from many of these women in the 1990s led the

Food

> and Drug Administration (FDA) to restrict the use of silicone

> implants.

>

> Shanklin says siliconosis can cause autoimmune diseases, cognitive

> dysfunction, seizures, and lupus. Other physicians are not so

>

> sure. Many plastic surgeons claim there's not enough research to

> prove that silicone causes health problems. And many of those who

do

> acknowledge the possibility of silicone-related illnesses still

tout

> saline implants as a safe alternative.

>

> I Must, I Must, I Must Increase My Bust

> Women have long attempted to increase the size of their breasts

with

> implants of various kinds. In the 1800s, women injected paraffin

> directly into breast tissue. And some had glass or ivory balls

> implanted. During the 1940s, Japanese prostitutes began injecting

> industrial-grade silicone into their breasts to please American

> soldiers. Many of them died when the silicone migrated to other

parts

> of their bodies. When Las Vegas showgirls began using a similar

> procedure in the 1950s, the Nevada state government banned the

> procedure.

>

> Recognizing the market for a safe breast enhancement procedure,

two

> plastic surgeons in Texas developed silicone implants in the

1960s.

> In 1976, the FDA enacted the Medical Devices Amendment, which

gives

> it the authority to review and approve the safety and

effectiveness

> of medical devices. Since breast implants were already on the

market,

> they were " grandfathered " in and didn't have to meet the same

> criteria.

>

> In 1984, legal troubles began. A silicone implant recipient sued

Dow-

> Corning, an implant manufacturer, after she'd contracted systemic

> autoimmune disease. The jury agreed that Stern's implants

were

> the cause of her illness, and she was awarded $211,000 in

> compensatory damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages. The

> evidence was sealed under court order.

>

> By the early 1990s, implant manufacturers were being routinely

sued,

> and the FDA began requesting studies on the safety of silicone

> implants. A class-action lawsuit eventually left Dow-Corning, once

> the largest implant manufacturer, bankrupt. In early 1992, FDA

> commissioner Kessler called for a voluntary moratorium on

the

> distribution and implantation of silicone gel implants and asked

for

> more studies on their safety.

>

> In April 1992, new research was submitted to the FDA, and Kessler

> lifted the moratorium, with the caveat that silicone implants

should

> only be made available to women who met certain criteria, such as

> needing reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. Women who

> underwent such surgery had to take part in a lengthy study

protocol.

>

> Now women who want routine cosmetic augmentation have only one

> choice -- saline implants, which are marketed as the safe

alternative

> to silicone.

>

> The " Safe " Choice?

> Shanklin got involved in studying silicone poisoning by accident.

In

> 1986, a pathologist in Detroit was consulted in a lawsuit in which

a

> woman was claiming her implants had made her sick. When the doctor

> learned that the surgeon being sued was a close friend, he asked

> Shanklin to take his place.

>

> " I went immediately to the library, because this was news to me,

and

> I was astonished to read papers from the 1960s and 1970s on the

> issue, " says Shanklin. " One of the attorneys in the case asked me

to

> provide a list of all the things that could happen to this woman.

> When I said she could die, attorneys woke up all over the room. "

>

> The case was eventually settled out of court, but Shanklin

continued

> his research. He teamed up with fellow UT pathologist Dr.

> Smalley, and the two wrote a number of research papers on the

effects

> of silicone on the human body. Their studies focused not only on

> breast implants but the effects of silicone in other medical

devices

> as well. From February 1996 to June 2002, they ran an implant

follow-

> up clinic at UT to study poisoning from implants and to give

affected

> women a place to get help.

>

> According to their findings, siliconosis is a real disorder that

> generally shows up several years after implantation. Most of the

> research provided to the FDA by the implant manufacturers was

> conducted on subjects who had had implants for a year or less,

> according to Shanklin.

>

> " In long-term patients, we saw everything from rashes to

> forgetfulness, " says Shanklin. " Some developed a broadly based

food

> intolerance, and one woman I saw had broken out into wandering

> vasculitis, where various vessels swell up and the tissue around

them

> breaks and leaves scars, " says Shanklin. " I've had several implant

> patients die of lupus in their 50s. "

>

> According to the National Center for Policy Research for Women and

> Families (CPR), manufacturers' studies do not take into account

that

> the types of diseases associated with silicone poisoning, such as

> autoimmune and connective-tissue diseases, take years to develop.

But

> these manufacturer-approved studies are commonly accepted by many

> plastic surgeons, including Dr. Wallace, a plastic surgeon

> with UT Medical Group, Inc.

>

> " If I went home tonight and my wife said, 'I'd like some breast

> implants,' I'd say okay with no hesitation, " says Wallace.

>

> Wallace has performed hundreds of saline breast implant

> augmentations, and he says none of his patients have complained of

> symptoms of siliconosis. He says he has " explanted " a couple of

> siliconosis patients who got implants from other surgeons.

>

> " There may be a small subset of people who really do have a

reaction

> [to silicone]. It's not our position to judge or try to browbeat

> these people, telling them they're fine and they should get back

to

> work, " says Wallace. " But the medical science commissioned by the

> courts came away with the conclusion that silicone does not make

you

> sick. "

>

> (a Germantown nurse who requested that her name be

> changed to protect her identity) had saline implants put in nine

> years ago and she agrees. She says she hasn't experienced any

signs

> of silicone poisoning, nor has she experienced the more common

risks,

> such as deflation or capsular contracture.

>

> " I've heard claims made by women about silicone poisoning, but I

> don't believe there's actually a link between silicone and

diseases, "

> says , who went from a B-cup to a C-cup. " It's used in all

kinds

> of medical devices, like tubes for kids' ears and artificial

joints.

> Historically, it's been found to be a very inert and safe

material. "

>

> However, Shanklin and Smalley's studies found that adverse

reactions

> also occurred in some patients who had been implanted with these

> other medical devices. In one of their studies, which was

published

> in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, 22 men

and

> 21 women who had been injected or implanted with non-mammary

silicone-

> containing devices were tested to determine the silicone's effect.

>

> Their findings indicated that implantation of any silicone-

containing

> device has the same immunogenic consequences as those shown in

women

> with siliconosis. The study also showed that how long the devices

had

> been implanted was a more important risk factor than the amount of

> silicone implanted.

>

> Not all women who receive saline implants are at risk. Between

1985

> and 1996, there were 23,454 adverse reaction reports filed with

the

> FDA for saline implants, versus 103,343 for silicone gel implants.

> There's been little research to determine why some women are more

> susceptible than others. Shanklin believes some women are simply

more

> genetically prone to adverse reactions to silicone.

>

> McKenzie, who participates in a nationwide Internet support group,

> isn't so sure. " The women in my group have had several

conversations

> trying to find that common link, " says McKenzie. " What is it about

us

> that would cause us to get sick? We can't find the answer. "

>

> Finding that answer would mean more FDA-sanctioned manufacturer

> research on women who have had implants for an extended period of

> time. Many who believe that saline implants can cause siliconosis

are

> convinced that such studies will never happen, since proof that

> saline implants can cause diseases could damage a multimillion-

dollar

> industry. Meanwhile, women like McKenzie try rigorous

detoxification

> programs and work to get health-care coverage from skeptical

medical

> insurance companies.

>

> The Road to Recovery

> Now 25, McKenzie is feeling much better, but she says she's still

got

> some healing ahead. She had her implants removed a year ago. On

good

> days, she's fine as long she's home and in bed fairly early. At

> night, she still experiences intense pain, especially in her hands

> and wrists. On bad days, she wakes up, takes her medicine, and

goes

> back to bed.

>

> Most women need several years to recover from siliconosis, and

since

> many doctors don't believe the disease exists, many victims turn

to

> alternative medicine.

>

> " I've only encountered two doctors who have believed me, " says

> McKenzie. " My rheumatologist told me I didn't have to be sick if I

> didn't want to. He suggested intensive psychotherapy. Why would I

> want to be sick and bedridden by age 23? "

>

> McKenzie gets emotional support as well as nutritional and

> detoxification tips from Saline Support, a nationwide Internet

group

> for women who believe they have contracted siliconosis through

saline

> implants. The 433-member support group began in July 2000 when

Patty

> Fausett, a siliconosis victim from , Nevada, noticed a

lack

> of support for women who'd contracted the disease from saline

> implants. She decided to start a group devoted to women with

saline

> implants.

>

> " My goal was to really help us get better, because what I saw in

the

> other group was a lot of older women with horrible medical

problems

> that didn't seem to improve over time, " says Fausett. " The ones

who

> were showing improvement were doing it through alternative

medicine --

> detoxification, healthy eating, and organic foods -- rather than

> going to doctors, who'll just give out prescription drugs to

further

> poison our bodies. "

>

> The women in Saline Support use the group to share detox methods

that

> have worked and to share stories about their issues with doctors

and

> family members.

>

> " Our group is a safe haven for women to come to, where they can

feel

> that they will not be rejected, " says Fausett. " So many doctors

have

> said this is all in their heads. Women can come here when they

have

> emotional problems from the frustration of dealing with doctors

who

> don't understand. We're like women on a stormy sea trying to keep

our

> heads above water, and there's no one there to help us. "

>

> Fausett says she thinks the problem will only get worse as more

and

> more women opt for saline implants. According to CPR statistics,

the

> number of women who underwent augmentations doubled between 1997

and

> 2002. In 2002, approximately 236,888 women had cosmetic breast

> implants.

>

> " I don't know if they'll ever really find the answers until some

> government agency steps in and realizes that women are getting

sick, "

> says Fausett. " We need to stop and find out what's going on and

how

> we should fix the problem. "

>

> The Next Big Thing

> " A number of years ago, " says Shanklin, " I had some patients that

had

> gotten implants as high school graduation presents, and that's

> apparently become a sub-industry. You don't get a limousine ride

or a

> convertible anymore. You get breasts. When they're 35, they're

going

> to be sick as shit. I've seen it happen again and again. "

>

> According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 3,841 girls

18

> or younger received breast implants last year. With the recent

> popularity of plastic-surgery makeover shows, such as The Swan and

> Extreme Makeover, breast implants and other forms of cosmetic

surgery

> seem more appealing to young girls.

>

> " It's a tragedy that so many young women are running to plastic

> surgeons to fix their bodies instead of learning how to accept

> themselves as they are, " says Fausett. " I would just plead with

them

> not to get implants as a way to cure their self-esteem problems. "

>

> Fausett worries that some teens who may be susceptible to silicone

> poisoning will begin to see health problems before they reach 25.

And

> since there's no real cure, she says they're likely to be stuck

with

> some complications for the rest of their lives. Although Fausett's

> almost back to normal after five years of recovery, she's still

> dealing with an autoimmune thyroid disease.

>

> But implant science is marching on, and there may soon be an

> alternative to silicone and saline implants. Several biotechnology

> companies are working on a tissue-engineering technique that would

> inject cells from another part of the body into the breast area,

> creating larger breasts. The technique would initially be marketed

to

> women who have had lumpectomies or mastectomies, but the method

could

> eventually be used for cosmetic breast enhancement as well. The

> future of the technique depends on FDA approval.

>

> For now, victims of siliconosis continue to publicize their

plight. A

> few weeks ago, a film crew from MTV's I Want a Famous Face was in

> Memphis filming McKenzie for a segment of the show. Each show

> counters a positive plastic surgery experience with a negative

one.

> One episode this fall will feature McKenzie in the negative story

> slot.

>

> The issue is slowly gaining more attention, and McKenzie is

planning

> on putting together a calendar of explanted women who've

contracted

> siliconosis through saline implants. She says she'll probably use

> some of the women in her support group as models. Each month will

> feature a different woman's pictures and story. Some of the women

> have lost husbands and homes. Others spent months unable to care

for

> their own children.

>

> " This is a lose-lose situation, " says Shanklin. " They lose their

> health, and if the situation is severe enough, they lose their

> augmented breasts. Sometimes they lose their husbands and their

jobs.

> They lose their self-esteem, and it's all downhill. All they've

got

> left is a chest so full of scars it looks like a railroad

switching

> yard. "

[Guest guest]

Colleen, I am so proud of you! you go girl!

I like the "most have a broad food intolerance" hmm, celiac disease, gluton intolerance? They say its triggered by an environmental trigger/ IMPLANTS? Never had this problem, until about 5 years ago- Love

>From: "dimonds68" <Dimonds6881@...> >Reply- > >Subject: Re: Memphis Flyer story/To Colleen >Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 18:35:12 -0000 > >- Colleen, How are you?? What an EXCELLENT article. Thank you so >much for taking your time and effort to do it!! I am so glad this >article did NOT 'play down the truth' of how sick one can get. I >have been thinking about you, and wondering how you were doing! I >hope you are improving. Thought and prayers. Hugs and health >TERRY/ > > >-- In , "colleenfortner" ><cfortner@e...> wrote: > > Here's the article from the Memphis Flyer...Patty, if you want me >to > > mail you a paper, let me know...thanks, Colleen > > > > > > > > An Imperfect Solution > > Saline breast implants are touted as a safe alternative to >silicone. > > > > Bianca | 8/13/2004 > > > > In 1997, when Colleen McKenzie was 19, she had a breast >augmentation > > procedure performed by the Memphis Plastic Surgery Group. She was > > told that her new saline-filled implants were perfectly safe. > > > > Three years later, McKenzie began experiencing fainting spells, > > extreme fatigue, muscle and body aches, and fever. Her vision >blurred > > and she had to start wearing glasses. She suffered from depression > > and memory loss and had to take a leave of absence from her job as >an > > art director for Idex Creative Marketing. She went from doctor to > > doctor for months, but none could give her an accurate diagnosis. >A > > rheumatologist told her that her illness was imaginary and >suggested > > she see a psychiatrist. > > > > In 2001, McKenzie met Dr. Shanklin, a pathologist at the > > University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a leader in > > research linking saline implants to silicone poisoning. Saline > > implants are filled with a saltwater solution, but the liquid is > > encased in a silicone shell. Shanklin's studies indicate that the > > silicone casing can cause the same kind of damage as a silicone- > > filled implant. Shanklin diagnosed McKenzie with siliconosis, a > > disease caused by too much silicone in the body. He said >McKenzie's > > symptoms were the same as those experienced by women with silicone > > implants. Lawsuits from many of these women in the 1990s led the >Food > > and Drug Administration (FDA) to restrict the use of silicone > > implants. > > > > Shanklin says siliconosis can cause autoimmune diseases, cognitive > > dysfunction, seizures, and lupus. Other physicians are not so > > > > sure. Many plastic surgeons claim there's not enough research to > > prove that silicone causes health problems. And many of those who >do > > acknowledge the possibility of silicone-related illnesses still >tout > > saline implants as a safe alternative. > > > > I Must, I Must, I Must Increase My Bust > > Women have long attempted to increase the size of their breasts >with > > implants of various kinds. In the 1800s, women injected paraffin > > directly into breast tissue. And some had glass or ivory balls > > implanted. During the 1940s, Japanese prostitutes began injecting > > industrial-grade silicone into their breasts to please American > > soldiers. Many of them died when the silicone migrated to other >parts > > of their bodies. When Las Vegas showgirls began using a similar > > procedure in the 1950s, the Nevada state government banned the > > procedure. > > > > Recognizing the market for a safe breast enhancement procedure, >two > > plastic surgeons in Texas developed silicone implants in the >1960s. > > In 1976, the FDA enacted the Medical Devices Amendment, which >gives > > it the authority to review and approve the safety and >effectiveness > > of medical devices. Since breast implants were already on the >market, > > they were "grandfathered" in and didn't have to meet the same > > criteria. > > > > In 1984, legal troubles began. A silicone implant recipient sued >Dow- > > Corning, an implant manufacturer, after she'd contracted systemic > > autoimmune disease. The jury agreed that Stern's implants >were > > the cause of her illness, and she was awarded $211,000 in > > compensatory damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages. The > > evidence was sealed under court order. > > > > By the early 1990s, implant manufacturers were being routinely >sued, > > and the FDA began requesting studies on the safety of silicone > > implants. A class-action lawsuit eventually left Dow-Corning, once > > the largest implant manufacturer, bankrupt. In early 1992, FDA > > commissioner Kessler called for a voluntary moratorium on >the > > distribution and implantation of silicone gel implants and asked >for > > more studies on their safety. > > > > In April 1992, new research was submitted to the FDA, and Kessler > > lifted the moratorium, with the caveat that silicone implants >should > > only be made available to women who met certain criteria, such as > > needing reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. Women who > > underwent such surgery had to take part in a lengthy study >protocol. > > > > Now women who want routine cosmetic augmentation have only one > > choice -- saline implants, which are marketed as the safe >alternative > > to silicone. > > > > The "Safe" Choice? > > Shanklin got involved in studying silicone poisoning by accident. >In > > 1986, a pathologist in Detroit was consulted in a lawsuit in which >a > > woman was claiming her implants had made her sick. When the doctor > > learned that the surgeon being sued was a close friend, he asked > > Shanklin to take his place. > > > > "I went immediately to the library, because this was news to me, >and > > I was astonished to read papers from the 1960s and 1970s on the > > issue," says Shanklin. "One of the attorneys in the case asked me >to > > provide a list of all the things that could happen to this woman. > > When I said she could die, attorneys woke up all over the room." > > > > The case was eventually settled out of court, but Shanklin >continued > > his research. He teamed up with fellow UT pathologist Dr. > > Smalley, and the two wrote a number of research papers on the >effects > > of silicone on the human body. Their studies focused not only on > > breast implants but the effects of silicone in other medical >devices > > as well. From February 1996 to June 2002, they ran an implant >follow- > > up clinic at UT to study poisoning from implants and to give >affected > > women a place to get help. > > > > According to their findings, siliconosis is a real disorder that > > generally shows up several years after implantation. Most of the > > research provided to the FDA by the implant manufacturers was > > conducted on subjects who had had implants for a year or less, > > according to Shanklin. > > > > "In long-term patients, we saw everything from rashes to > > forgetfulness," says Shanklin. "Some developed a broadly based >food > > intolerance, and one woman I saw had broken out into wandering > > vasculitis, where various vessels swell up and the tissue around >them > > breaks and leaves scars," says Shanklin. "I've had several implant > > patients die of lupus in their 50s." > > > > According to the National Center for Policy Research for Women and > > Families (CPR), manufacturers' studies do not take into account >that > > the types of diseases associated with silicone poisoning, such as > > autoimmune and connective-tissue diseases, take years to develop. >But > > these manufacturer-approved studies are commonly accepted by many > > plastic surgeons, including Dr. Wallace, a plastic surgeon > > with UT Medical Group, Inc. > > > > "If I went home tonight and my wife said, 'I'd like some breast > > implants,' I'd say okay with no hesitation," says Wallace. > > > > Wallace has performed hundreds of saline breast implant > > augmentations, and he says none of his patients have complained of > > symptoms of siliconosis. He says he has "explanted" a couple of > > siliconosis patients who got implants from other surgeons. > > > > "There may be a small subset of people who really do have a >reaction > > [to silicone]. It's not our position to judge or try to browbeat > > these people, telling them they're fine and they should get back >to > > work," says Wallace. "But the medical science commissioned by the > > courts came away with the conclusion that silicone does not make >you > > sick." > > > > (a Germantown nurse who requested that her name be > > changed to protect her identity) had saline implants put in nine > > years ago and she agrees. She says she hasn't experienced any >signs > > of silicone poisoning, nor has she experienced the more common >risks, > > such as deflation or capsular contracture. > > > > "I've heard claims made by women about silicone poisoning, but I > > don't believe there's actually a link between silicone and >diseases," > > says , who went from a B-cup to a C-cup. "It's used in all >kinds > > of medical devices, like tubes for kids' ears and artificial >joints. > > Historically, it's been found to be a very inert and safe >material." > > > > However, Shanklin and Smalley's studies found that adverse >reactions > > also occurred in some patients who had been implanted with these > > other medical devices. In one of their studies, which was >published > > in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, 22 men >and > > 21 women who had been injected or implanted with non-mammary >silicone- > > containing devices were tested to determine the silicone's effect. > > > > Their findings indicated that implantation of any silicone- >containing > > device has the same immunogenic consequences as those shown in >women > > with siliconosis. The study also showed that how long the devices >had > > been implanted was a more important risk factor than the amount of > > silicone implanted. > > > > Not all women who receive saline implants are at risk. Between >1985 > > and 1996, there were 23,454 adverse reaction reports filed with >the > > FDA for saline implants, versus 103,343 for silicone gel implants. > > There's been little research to determine why some women are more > > susceptible than others. Shanklin believes some women are simply >more > > genetically prone to adverse reactions to silicone. > > > > McKenzie, who participates in a nationwide Internet support group, > > isn't so sure. "The women in my group have had several >conversations > > trying to find that common link," says McKenzie. "What is it about >us > > that would cause us to get sick? We can't find the answer." > > > > Finding that answer would mean more FDA-sanctioned manufacturer > > research on women who have had implants for an extended period of > > time. Many who believe that saline implants can cause siliconosis >are > > convinced that such studies will never happen, since proof that > > saline implants can cause diseases could damage a multimillion- >dollar > > industry. Meanwhile, women like McKenzie try rigorous >detoxification > > programs and work to get health-care coverage from skeptical >medical > > insurance companies. > > > > The Road to Recovery > > Now 25, McKenzie is feeling much better, but she says she's still >got > > some healing ahead. She had her implants removed a year ago. On >good > > days, she's fine as long she's home and in bed fairly early. At > > night, she still experiences intense pain, especially in her hands > > and wrists. On bad days, she wakes up, takes her medicine, and >goes > > back to bed. > > > > Most women need several years to recover from siliconosis, and >since > > many doctors don't believe the disease exists, many victims turn >to > > alternative medicine. > > > > "I've only encountered two doctors who have believed me," says > > McKenzie. "My rheumatologist told me I didn't have to be sick if I > > didn't want to. He suggested intensive psychotherapy. Why would I > > want to be sick and bedridden by age 23?" > > > > McKenzie gets emotional support as well as nutritional and > > detoxification tips from Saline Support, a nationwide Internet >group > > for women who believe they have contracted siliconosis through >saline > > implants. The 433-member support group began in July 2000 when >Patty > > Fausett, a siliconosis victim from , Nevada, noticed a >lack > > of support for women who'd contracted the disease from saline > > implants. She decided to start a group devoted to women with >saline > > implants. > > > > "My goal was to really help us get better, because what I saw in >the > > other group was a lot of older women with horrible medical >problems > > that didn't seem to improve over time," says Fausett. "The ones >who > > were showing improvement were doing it through alternative >medicine -- > > detoxification, healthy eating, and organic foods -- rather than > > going to doctors, who'll just give out prescription drugs to >further > > poison our bodies." > > > > The women in Saline Support use the group to share detox methods >that > > have worked and to share stories about their issues with doctors >and > > family members. > > > > "Our group is a safe haven for women to come to, where they can >feel > > that they will not be rejected," says Fausett. "So many doctors >have > > said this is all in their heads. Women can come here when they >have > > emotional problems from the frustration of dealing with doctors >who > > don't understand. We're like women on a stormy sea trying to keep >our > > heads above water, and there's no one there to help us." > > > > Fausett says she thinks the problem will only get worse as more >and > > more women opt for saline implants. According to CPR statistics, >the > > number of women who underwent augmentations doubled between 1997 >and > > 2002. In 2002, approximately 236,888 women had cosmetic breast > > implants. > > > > "I don't know if they'll ever really find the answers until some > > government agency steps in and realizes that women are getting >sick," > > says Fausett. "We need to stop and find out what's going on and >how > > we should fix the problem." > > > > The Next Big Thing > > "A number of years ago," says Shanklin, "I had some patients that >had > > gotten implants as high school graduation presents, and that's > > apparently become a sub-industry. You don't get a limousine ride >or a > > convertible anymore. You get breasts. When they're 35, they're >going > > to be sick as shit. I've seen it happen again and again." > > > > According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 3,841 girls >18 > > or younger received breast implants last year. With the recent > > popularity of plastic-surgery makeover shows, such as The Swan and > > Extreme Makeover, breast implants and other forms of cosmetic >surgery > > seem more appealing to young girls. > > > > "It's a tragedy that so many young women are running to plastic > > surgeons to fix their bodies instead of learning how to accept > > themselves as they are," says Fausett. "I would just plead with >them > > not to get implants as a way to cure their self-esteem problems." > > > > Fausett worries that some teens who may be susceptible to silicone > > poisoning will begin to see health problems before they reach 25. >And > > since there's no real cure, she says they're likely to be stuck >with > > some complications for the rest of their lives. Although Fausett's > > almost back to normal after five years of recovery, she's still > > dealing with an autoimmune thyroid disease. > > > > But implant science is marching on, and there may soon be an > > alternative to silicone and saline implants. Several biotechnology > > companies are working on a tissue-engineering technique that would > > inject cells from another part of the body into the breast area, > > creating larger breasts. The technique would initially be marketed >to > > women who have had lumpectomies or mastectomies, but the method >could > > eventually be used for cosmetic breast enhancement as well. The > > future of the technique depends on FDA approval. > > > > For now, victims of siliconosis continue to publicize their >plight. A > > few weeks ago, a film crew from MTV's I Want a Famous Face was in > > Memphis filming McKenzie for a segment of the show. Each show > > counters a positive plastic surgery experience with a negative >one. > > One episode this fall will feature McKenzie in the negative story > > slot. > > > > The issue is slowly gaining more attention, and McKenzie is >planning > > on putting together a calendar of explanted women who've >contracted > > siliconosis through saline implants. She says she'll probably use > > some of the women in her support group as models. Each month will > > feature a different woman's pictures and story. Some of the women > > have lost husbands and homes. Others spent months unable to care >for > > their own children. > > > > "This is a lose-lose situation," says Shanklin. "They lose their > > health, and if the situation is severe enough, they lose their > > augmented breasts. Sometimes they lose their husbands and their >jobs. > > They lose their self-esteem, and it's all downhill. All they've >got > > left is a chest so full of scars it looks like a railroad >switching > > yard." > > > >