Fw: Breast Implants, Silicone: Safety and Efficacy

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----- Original Message ----- From: Kathi

Sent: Monday, August 05, 2002 12:53 PM

Subject: Breast Implants, Silicone: Safety and Efficacy

Authored by Garry S Brody, MD, Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Southern California Garry S Brody, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Hand Surgery, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Society for Head and Neck Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, California Medical Association, Medical Society of Virginia, and Pan-Pacific Surgical Association Edited by Christian Paletta, MD, Chief, Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Saleh M Shenaq, MD, Chief, Program Director, Professor, DeBakey Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Ben Taub General Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine; Nick Slenkovich, MD, Staff Physician, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Lars M Vistnes, MD, FRCSC, FACS, Program Director, Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine Author's Email: Garry S Brody, MD Editor's Email: Christian Paletta, MD eMedicine Journal, June 20 2002, Volume 3, Number 6 HISTORY OF BREAST IMPLANTS Section 2 of 11 The number of women in the United States who have breast implants is unknown, but current estimates derived from device sales range widely from 1.5 to more than 2 million. This is more than 1% of the adult female population. An estimated 70-80% of breast implant procedures were performed for cosmetic purposes and 20-30% for reconstruction of congenital anomalies or postmastectomy defects. Following the adverse publicity in the early 1990s, interest in the procedure fell almost 50% but seems to have recovered incrementally. In 1998, approximately 140,000 pairs were sold in the United States for augmentation; this number is higher than 1991 sales. The number of these sold for replacement is unknown. this very legthy reportt can be found: http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic500.htm