Fw: Letter to the editor of Vancouver Sun re implants through the belly button

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message ----- From: Zuckerman

Undisclosed-Recipient:;@...

Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 9:50 PM

Subject: Letter to the editor of Vancouver Sun re implants through the belly button

Dear Friends,

This is a surgical technique that seems to have more than its share of problems. We were very concerned about the positive article published in the Vancouver Sun and were pleased that they published our response.

Sincerely,

Zuckerman, Ph.D.National Center for Policy Research (CPR) for Women & Families1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20006202 223-4000www.center4policy.org

Vancouver Sun, November 11, 2002

"Implants risky enough without digging in belly-buttons"

BY Zuckerman

The Oct. 31 article "Bigger breasts a belly button and border away" told one side of the story. Patients need to know the other side.

Inserting breast implants through the belly button is specifically "not recommended" by the manufacturers of breast implants and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in its consumer booklet for implant patients (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/indexbip.PDF).

Although plastic surgeons are proud there are no visible scars, the risks to the woman are potentially greater than other implant surgical techniques. That is why so few surgeons perform this procedure.

All surgeries have risks, and breast implant surgery has very high complication rates, including infections, pain and poor cosmetic outcome. About one in every four implant patients needs additional surgery within the first few years.

Why would any woman want to increase the already substantial risks by undergoing a procedure that has not been studied in long-term clinical trials and is specifically "not recommended" by implant manufacturers and the agency that has studied the research on implants?

Zuckerman

National Centre for Policy Research for Women & Families

Washington, D.C.

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message ----- From: Zuckerman

Undisclosed-Recipient:;

Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 10:50 PM

Subject: Letter to the editor of Vancouver Sun re implants through the belly button

Dear Friends,

This is a surgical technique that seems to have more than its share of problems. We were very concerned about the positive article published in the Vancouver Sun and were pleased that they published our response.

Sincerely,

Zuckerman, Ph.D.National Center for Policy Research (CPR) for Women & Families1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20006202 223-4000www.center4policy.org

Vancouver Sun, November 11, 2002

"Implants risky enough without digging in belly-buttons"

BY Zuckerman

The Oct. 31 article "Bigger breasts a belly button and border away" told one side of the story. Patients need to know the other side.

Inserting breast implants through the belly button is specifically "not recommended" by the manufacturers of breast implants and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in its consumer booklet for implant patients (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/indexbip.PDF).

Although plastic surgeons are proud there are no visible scars, the risks to the woman are potentially greater than other implant surgical techniques. That is why so few surgeons perform this procedure.

All surgeries have risks, and breast implant surgery has very high complication rates, including infections, pain and poor cosmetic outcome. About one in every four implant patients needs additional surgery within the first few years.

Why would any woman want to increase the already substantial risks by undergoing a procedure that has not been studied in long-term clinical trials and is specifically "not recommended" by implant manufacturers and the agency that has studied the research on implants?

Zuckerman

National Centre for Policy Research for Women & Families

Washington, D.C.