Re: My introduction and plead for advice on hydrogel and polyure

[Guest guest]

Silje, I have actually never heard of hydrogel implants, not sure if others on this group have. I have heard of hydrogel being used to cure wounds and wound beds. But never have I heard of it being used in implants. Could be something that is only being used in Europe, and has not been approved in the US yet. Not sure--Dr. Kolb may know more. Or perhaps they are using hydrogel implants here, but I've just never heard of it. I am a registered nurse, and work in the recovery room, and while I've taken care of lots of women post saline and silicone implants, I've never taken care of anyone w/ hydrogel implants. I would be very leery of listening to any doctor who guarantees implants as safe. Silicone was "guaranteed" to be safe, as was saline, and look what they have found out about silicone, and are now discovering about saline implants. Anything that is placed into your body is foreign to it, and as such, your body is going to mount an "attack" against it. Just remember that soy implants were approved in Europe, but I don't think the US, and look what a catastophe that turned out to be....Europe gets approval and the go ahead for many drugs and medical device implants long before the US does. If you'd like, I can get you more info on hydrogel, as I know a fellow nurse who works with hydrogel in wound care lots. It can at least give you an idea of exactly what it is, what it is composed of, and any other info I can get. As for polyurethane implants, I'd stay clear of those as well. Again, polyurethane is not safe, problems are being linked to products w/ polyurethane. Of course I am going to say that your best decision is to get the implants out, and not get any replacements. But that is my opinion, and you are the one that has to make the decision. Whatever you do, just please do your research, ask questions, and always, always think of your body and health down the road. Implants don't always cause health problems immediately. Sometimes it can take yrs and yrs. Consider this when making a decision--while health problems may not be apparent now, or even 2-3 yrs (or longer) down the road, your health may suddenly deteriorate 10-15 yrs down the road, and the damage has been done. e ----- Original Message ----- From: Silje sson Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 4:59 PM ' ' Subject: My introduction and plead for advice on hydrogel and polyurethan implants Hi everyone.I'm a 21 years old woman from Norway in Europe. I'm active in sports andin good shape.I have rather large saline implants. I do not have any discomfort orhealth problems from them and everything healed well and I haven't had aproblem with shield developments or lack of sensivity, but severalindependant clinics have recommended against usage of them here,including the Department of Health. And from reading the posts in this group I've started to worry a bittoo. I recieved absolutely no information about what to do before,under and after my surgery, and for circumstances I rather not go intohere, I wasn't fully able to research this kind of surgery on myselfbefore I underwent it, but very short summary: I no longer have anycontact with family and ex boyfriend after this. I was very badly treated at the clinic in which the doctor was apersonal friend of my father, and this clinic is now up forinvestigation, and they will probably be closed down and their doctorarrested, I hope at least.Now, I'm trying to get my life stable, and so after a lot ofconsideration, advice and my now thorough research, I found a new clinicthat I really trust, who're not shady or anything but a clinic in goodstanding with a good history who's been around for a long time.The doctors there suggested for surgery in which they'd remove my salineimplants, and they could replace them with either polyurethan orhydrogel.Since my mother had cancer due to excessive smoking (it does not run inthe family, but of course it has ME worried), the doctor suggested thatI might want to get hydrogel, since these are excellent for breastexaminations, X-Rays and so on, but he told me they're not 'safer' thanany of the other ones. Another disadvantage is that the clinic isn'tfully convinced that this implant has been thouroughly researched forside effects yet.Polyurethan they could guarantee for as safe. I'd get state of the artand entirely new implants, not manufactured earlier than late 2001 atworst. If I picked either for a while, and felt any complications atall, they'd remove them and if necessary, give me a lift, for free.Another benefit is that I'd go to this clinic for followup and support,can call them 24 hour a day, and they're always up to date with thelatest research, and best of all, they're not seedy or suspicious.But... I turn to you because I really want to make an informed decisionhere. I hold the option of having my implants removed entirely, but ifI so choose to continue with implants, do you have any advice onhydrogel, sugar gel or polyurethan that you think I should really beaware off or if you have any recommendations, advice, tips... I'm allvery grateful for it.love and wishes,Silje

[Guest guest]

e the hydrogels were available in the states for awhile but were taken off the market as far as I know when the FDA finally ruled on the saline ones. I agree that polyurethane is dangerous too, I would not want any new implant, heck if the old ones were not done right what makes the new ones any better anyhow. Personally it scares me to think about being a test rat! I agree with Dr Kolb, if this woman already has implants that are smooth saline she is probably better off keeping those than getting the newfangled ones. I still think I would get rid of them all but that is just me.!

----- Original Message -----

From: e Rene

Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 9:04 PM

Subject: Re: My introduction and plead for advice on hydrogel and polyure

Silje,

I have actually never heard of hydrogel implants, not sure if others on this group have. I have heard of hydrogel being used to cure wounds and wound beds. But never have I heard of it being used in implants. Could be something that is only being used in Europe, and has not been approved in the US yet. Not sure--Dr. Kolb may know more. Or perhaps they are using hydrogel implants here, but I've just never heard of it. I am a registered nurse, and work in the recovery room, and while I've taken care of lots of women post saline and silicone implants, I've never taken care of anyone w/ hydrogel implants.

I would be very leery of listening to any doctor who guarantees implants as safe. Silicone was "guaranteed" to be safe, as was saline, and look what they have found out about silicone, and are now discovering about saline implants. Anything that is placed into your body is foreign to it, and as such, your body is going to mount an "attack" against it. Just remember that soy implants were approved in Europe, but I don't think the US, and look what a catastophe that turned out to be....Europe gets approval and the go ahead for many drugs and medical device implants long before the US does.

If you'd like, I can get you more info on hydrogel, as I know a fellow nurse who works with hydrogel in wound care lots. It can at least give you an idea of exactly what it is, what it is composed of, and any other info I can get.

As for polyurethane implants, I'd stay clear of those as well. Again, polyurethane is not safe, problems are being linked to products w/ polyurethane.

Of course I am going to say that your best decision is to get the implants out, and not get any replacements. But that is my opinion, and you are the one that has to make the decision. Whatever you do, just please do your research, ask questions, and always, always think of your body and health down the road. Implants don't always cause health problems immediately. Sometimes it can take yrs and yrs. Consider this when making a decision--while health problems may not be apparent now, or even 2-3 yrs (or longer) down the road, your health may suddenly deteriorate 10-15 yrs down the road, and the damage has been done.

e

----- Original Message -----

From: Silje sson

Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 4:59 PM

' '

Subject: My introduction and plead for advice on hydrogel and polyurethan implants

Hi everyone.I'm a 21 years old woman from Norway in Europe. I'm active in sports andin good shape.I have rather large saline implants. I do not have any discomfort orhealth problems from them and everything healed well and I haven't had aproblem with shield developments or lack of sensivity, but severalindependant clinics have recommended against usage of them here,including the Department of Health. And from reading the posts in this group I've started to worry a bittoo. I recieved absolutely no information about what to do before,under and after my surgery, and for circumstances I rather not go intohere, I wasn't fully able to research this kind of surgery on myselfbefore I underwent it, but very short summary: I no longer have anycontact with family and ex boyfriend after this. I was very badly treated at the clinic in which the doctor was apersonal friend of my father, and this clinic is now up forinvestigation, and they will probably be closed down and their doctorarrested, I hope at least.Now, I'm trying to get my life stable, and so after a lot ofconsideration, advice and my now thorough research, I found a new clinicthat I really trust, who're not shady or anything but a clinic in goodstanding with a good history who's been around for a long time.The doctors there suggested for surgery in which they'd remove my salineimplants, and they could replace them with either polyurethan orhydrogel.Since my mother had cancer due to excessive smoking (it does not run inthe family, but of course it has ME worried), the doctor suggested thatI might want to get hydrogel, since these are excellent for breastexaminations, X-Rays and so on, but he told me they're not 'safer' thanany of the other ones. Another disadvantage is that the clinic isn'tfully convinced that this implant has been thouroughly researched forside effects yet.Polyurethan they could guarantee for as safe. I'd get state of the artand entirely new implants, not manufactured earlier than late 2001 atworst. If I picked either for a while, and felt any complications atall, they'd remove them and if necessary, give me a lift, for free.Another benefit is that I'd go to this clinic for followup and support,can call them 24 hour a day, and they're always up to date with thelatest research, and best of all, they're not seedy or suspicious.But... I turn to you because I really want to make an informed decisionhere. I hold the option of having my implants removed entirely, but ifI so choose to continue with implants, do you have any advice onhydrogel, sugar gel or polyurethan that you think I should really beaware off or if you have any recommendations, advice, tips... I'm allvery grateful for it.love and wishes,Silje