Posted by XtremeArtists ®: 


Is Ashleigh still with us?

She has probably already left to go get breast implants.

Posted by SindelChaos: 
woops double posted.

Posted by Wendi Meece: 
Like I said, you have to keep in mind that they were still REALLY swollen and had not settled yet in these pictures.  Beople tell me all the time now that they can't tell that they are fake.  Do you really like them better before?  I don't get that very often, especially since they were not even, and mad my measurements 32A-24-35.  I feel a lot more proportional at 34D-24-35.  Not to mention I make a LOT more money with modeling! 

Posted by Reese: 
Damn, are we still on this topic?  Geeze... Go ahead and buy them already...

Yeah go ahead and buy them and get health problems down the road. Like leaking, silicone poisoning and such. I don't understand why women want to mutilate themselves like that. And why other women encourage it. It's sad.

Posted by Alexandra Paris: 

Posted by Reese: 
Damn, are we still on this topic?  Geeze... Go ahead and buy them already...

Yeah go ahead and buy them and get health problems down the road. Like leaking, silicone poisoning and such. I don't understand why women want to mutilate themselves like that. And why other women encourage it. It's sad.

Cutting your hair and nails is mutilation, too.

Not that I encourage them, as I said earlier in the thread.  If the OP wants to do commercial/TnA/promo stuff, they might help her get work.  If she wants to do fashion/runway, it won't.

Posted by KM: 
I never though I'd post to topic like this...
Lets see, my chest is supposed to be uhum.. (looking into my shirt) 34b, but they dont fill some of my '34b' bras completely therefore I strongly believe that my chest is smaller. I thought about implants but then I went to the root of my reasons ands here is what I realized:
I want em because...

-I'll feel more confidant - no, Im already am but the real urge is to have more cleavage because of influence of the 'beauty standard' in my head.. crap, bad reason.

-I'll be more satisfied - umm no, I will never be because if I start changing something I will always find something else like lips, nose, heck.. toes...

-I'll be more attractive - NO, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Besides I wouldnt want 'the one' to love me for my looks, I want him to love my for ME, my personality and all the imperfections that come with it. Brrr, thoughts of all those preverted dudes who like breast come up... dont want those to whistle at me.

-I'll make more money - HECK no, Im a fashion model not a porn star so I actually wont get hired if my boobs are all over the runway )

-I want to..just because...I want them...because, damn it - I got no tits! - no, I do have a reason I just deny it and when I realized what it was, I didnt need implans anymore.

whoo-hoo, just gave my self a reality check.

Hmmm...  Interesting post...  I like the way you typed that out...

Posted by Alexandra Paris: 
But at least hair and nails grow back. I'm talking about man-made mutilation. I've talked a few friends of mine who have had breasts implants and would not recommend it to any woman.

What you let a butcher/plastic surgeon do to your body is permanent.

Piercing the ears or any other part of the body is bodily mutilation as well... Which means I am all F&*@$D up...  So what's a boob job...  If they had a buy one get one, I might consider going from a "B/C" to a "D."

Posted by Bob Sykes: 
Wow, is this a topic I have STRONG feelings about, and here's my 2 cents worth.  I'm a paramedic, and work in a hospital emergency room.  During my surgical rotations in school, I was assigned to a plastic surgeon and have observed and assisted with MANY implant operations.  If you want the details of the mutilation that occurs during the surgery, the potential complications and problems they DON'T tell you about and the maintenance - write me.  I'm not going to take the time to elaborate here.  From my opinion as a male and as a photographer - I DESPISE, HATE, DETEST and ABHOR implants!!!!

My mother was a legal secretary to a law firm that represented a plastic surgeon. They were being sued all the time for mutilating women.

Even though my mother knew the dangers of breast implants, a few years ago she decided to get liposuction. The doctors had given her the impression that she would look great afterwards, but instead she spent several months healing, with huge black bruises all over her stomach and thighs, and in very severe pain. After all that money and pain, they were still unable to remove the bulk of her fat because it was too dense they said. So she never saw the results that she wanted, and she could have easily spent that money on a personal trainer...I had really hoped that the surgery would be worthwhile and make her happy, but truthfully it was a disillusioning experience. Exercise would have done her more good, and that is what she had to do in the end anyways.

Right before the surgery the doctor tried to convince her to get implants, saying they should "go all the way" and she was very tempted! Luckily my father put his foot down and she declined the offer. I am so glad, because they would not have made her happy. When I heard that, I felt that the doctor was dishonorable.

Posted by DreamPretty?: 

Posted by Bob Sykes: 
Wow, is this a topic I have STRONG feelings about, and here's my 2 cents worth.  I'm a paramedic, and work in a hospital emergency room.  During my surgical rotations in school, I was assigned to a plastic surgeon and have observed and assisted with MANY implant operations.  If you want the details of the mutilation that occurs during the surgery, the potential complications and problems they DON'T tell you about and the maintenance - write me.  I'm not going to take the time to elaborate here.  From my opinion as a male and as a photographer - I DESPISE, HATE, DETEST and ABHOR implants!!!!

My mother was a legal secretary to a law firm that represented a plastic surgeon. They were being sued all the time for mutilating women.

Even though my mother knew the dangers of breast implants, a few years ago she decided to get liposuction. The doctors had given her the impression that she would look great afterwards, but instead she spent several months healing, with huge black bruises all over her stomach and thighs, and in very severe pain. After all that money and pain, they were still unable to remove the bulk of her fat because it was too dense they said. So she never saw the results that she wanted, and she could have easily spent that money on a personal trainer...I had really hoped that the surgery would be worthwhile and make her happy, but truthfully it was a disillusioning experience. Exercise would have done her more good, and that is what she had to do in the end anyways.

Right before the surgery the doctor tried to convince her to get implants, saying they should "go all the way" and she was very tempted! Luckily my father put his foot down and she declined the offer. I am so glad, because they would not have made her happy. When I heard that, I felt that the doctor was dishonorable.

Good for your dad. Plastic surgeons are monsters who prey on the insecurities of human beings just to make a quick buck. I'm sorry that happened to your mom, I think the more people that learn the truth about these butchers, the more better off women (and men in some cases) will be.

Breast implants or any other type of plastic surgery is quite harmful to women. They are other ways to improve yourself that are safe and don't cost as much. Besides whatever happened to eating right and growing old gracefully?

Back in my 20's an ex of mine suggested I get implants and at one point I seriously considered it. Why? Because I had low self esteem and he was very mentally abusive towards me so I thought that if I went under the knife he would love me even more.

So I did my research and what I saw was not pretty. Overtime he continued to rag on me about my appearance and finally I told him to go fuck himself and left. So it made me think if I had gone through it, would it really have been worth it? Now that I look back on it, I know it would not have been.

Plastic surgeons are only in it for the money and nothing else. They don't care about the lives they ruin with heir botched jobs nor do they want to. If you watch Nip/Tuck it's pretty accurate on how they portray these scumbags.

And another thing to think about. Breast augmentation is not permanent. You have to get them done every 10-15 years, that is if they don't leak and kill you first.

Posted by Alexandra Paris: 

Posted by DreamPretty?: 

Posted by Bob Sykes: 
Wow, is this a topic I have STRONG feelings about...  I was assigned to a plastic surgeon and have observed and assisted with MANY implant operations.  If you want the details of the mutilation that occurs during the surgery, the potential complications and problems they DON'T tell you about and the maintenance - write me....  I DESPISE, HATE, DETEST and ABHOR implants!!!!

My mother was a legal secretary to a law firm that represented a plastic surgeon. They were being sued all the time for mutilating women....

... So she never saw the results that she wanted, and she could have easily spent that money on a personal trainer...I had really hoped that the surgery would be worthwhile and make her happy, but truthfully it was a disillusioning experience...

Right before the surgery the doctor tried to convince her to get implants....  I felt that the doctor was dishonorable.

Good for your dad. PLASTIC SURGEONS ARE MONSTERS who prey on the insecurities of human beings just to make a quick buck.... I'm sorry that happened to your mom, I think the more people that learn the truth about these BUTCHERS, the more better off women (and men in some cases) will be.

...Plastic surgeons are ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY and nothing else. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LIVES they ruin with their botched jobs nor do they want to. If you watch Nip/Tuck it's pretty accurate on how they portray these SCUMBAGS....

I think in my humble opinion, Alexandra, you are being horribly stereo-typical and harshly judgemental to these doctors...  Although there is great truth in some of what you said... there is also another perspective... "cosmetic sugeons" also do corrective surgery...

Let me tell a story about a little girl who loved a horse... I'll break it down real quick: Her smaller sibling startled her already jittery horse... the horse frantically jumped up and accidentally kicked her in her face - smashing her frontal face features in to about seven pieces and completely destroyed her nose... A plastic reconstructive sugeon had to restructure her face to look normal again... She was only 12... She is simply beautiful today... The doctor did such a fantastic job, I can't even see where the sutures were... (Her parents opted for the surgery - the original doctors did what they could, but without the reconstructive surgery, she would not have looked what is considered "normal" by today's society standards - she could have lived without the surgery though.)

Yet, why stop there?  I have another friend that was devestated by breast cancer as they removed one of her breasts completely... she became suicidal... she thought that she was a lesser woman... but after another reconstructive surgeon replaced her breast, she felt more confident and thought she had a reason to continue living. (She opted for the surgery - it was not really a health needed surgery as the cancer was removed with her breast - she could have lived a normal life without the surgery).

Or there was this story about another little girl who had an accident and half of her face ripped open... She and her sibling were playing and somehow her face was gashed open with a toy...  A plastic surgeon had to come in and repair that, or the "regular surgeons" would have caused sever scarring as they did not have the knowledge to suture her face without leaving a massive scar across her eye, nose and four inches across her cheek.  This child was 9.

"Nip & Tuck" is all about the shock value on their show... They are also out to make a buck... They really don't give a damn about the general dangers of surgery - no matter what they tell you - it comes down to making the money... just like it comes down to a model enhancing her breasts... It's not about dangers or right versus wrong.  It's about money and vanity. I also promise you that surgeons do indeed care about their potential patients as getting sued really sucks and costs a lot more than the average boob job.

I am not trying to discredit your opinion or post, just trying to point out the good that today's technology has accomplished without being biased.

Posted by Alexandra Paris: 
But I feel very strongly about those that are only in it for the money.

That would be 90% of the people in the US.

Posted by Alexandra Paris: 
Yes and that's why I'm ashamed to live in this country at times. Not only are we obsessed with vanity but we are obsessed with taking over the world. What does your last comment have to do with thread anyway? Please explain.

You seem to be against fake breasts, capitalism and doctors.  So am I usually.

While the OP didn't say it had anything to do with money, I think one reason many models get implants is for the money they will make off of them.

That's the American way, and Hollywood is our culture exportation tool sending our twisted values to the rest of the world.

It has to do with personal and corporate greed more than the plastic surgeons you rallied against.

Posted by Soshanna: 
heh. this is funny to me.. i know its personal preference, but its just kind of weird how people can be soooo against them. I know there are a lot of photogs out there who won't shoot with girls who are not natural, but it seems silly to me. I have implants and so by their criteria, I'm not worthy of being shot for their book. Seems odd to discredit a model because of the fact she has saline instead of natural breasts..

It is just a preference. That's all.

Just like you might need a model of a certain height, certain ethnic background, certain age, certain whatever.

I usually don't care much either way in any situation.

The ONLY time I care is if the woman is a friend or a girlfriend and is asking for advice when she is considering getting them. Because I think the women in my life are beautiful exactly the way they are and never need bolt-ons.

As for you, Soshanna, I don't care if you have implants, a peg-leg, a glass-eye and a hook for a hand. You're gorgeous and I'd ask you to come out and play anyday.

... But if you have a peg-leg I won't ask you to be my jogging partner because that would just be rude.

Posted by Soshanna: 
heh. this is funny to me.. i know its personal preference, but its just kind of weird how people can be soooo against them. I know there are a lot of photogs out there who won't shoot with girls who are not natural, but it seems silly to me. I have implants and so by their criteria, I'm not worthy of being shot for their book. Seems odd to discredit a model because of the fact she has saline instead of natural breasts..

Just to clarify Soshanna.
I absolutely love your look and would definately shoot with you. I probably wouldn't do topless, but you have so much more to offer images than your boobs.

John

Posted by michael pavelsk: 
i tend to think that a model should be about a c cup. some model have a great shape and have a B cup. personally C and D cups are betterin my opinion, and in the long run you will make a lot more money in particular in glamour!

secondly i would be very particular about what doctor you uses. in this case get the best money can buy!

This is exactly the problem...I am barely a b-cup, but not stupid enough to think that with a boob job I'd make a better model! Believe me, I wish Hugh had more to grab onto, but my boobs are pretty damned fine!

This is not about money, this is about pain and degradation.

I recommend you go get your penis enlarged, and then tell me to get my breasts enlarged.

Posted by Alexandra Paris: 
Her t-shirt read BARELY LEGAL!

Now in my mind I'm thinking......

'Barely legal for what? Social security?'

LMAO!

Oh come on guys! I hear jokes every day about scumbag lawyers...and my dad is one! And I've learned over the years that all that stuff they say about lawyers, while not true of many wonderful young men and women, is generally very true of the trial-hardened veterans!

Same is true of plastic surgeons. Most of them have dreams of helping little girls who fall off horses...but how many little girls are they going to find? At some point they will give up their dreams, move to Hollywood, and find enough "barely legal" old ladies to buy a million dollar house!

Posted by Eric Muss-Barnes: 

Posted by Soshanna: 
heh. this is funny to me.. i know its personal preference, but its just kind of weird how people can be soooo against them. I know there are a lot of photogs out there who won't shoot with girls who are not natural, but it seems silly to me. I have implants and so by their criteria, I'm not worthy of being shot for their book. Seems odd to discredit a model because of the fact she has saline instead of natural breasts..

It is just a preference. That's all.

Just like you might need a model of a certain height, certain ethnic background, certain age, certain whatever.

I usually don't care much either way in any situation.

The ONLY time I care is if the woman is a friend or a girlfriend and is asking for advice when she is considering getting them. Because I think the women in my life are beautiful exactly the way they are and never need bolt-ons.

As for you, Soshanna, I don't care if you have implants, a peg-leg, a glass-eye and a hook for a hand. You're gorgeous and I'd ask you to come out and play anyday.

... But if you have a peg-leg I won't ask you to be my jogging partner because that would just be rude.

haha haha haha.. ya that would be kind of rude wouldn't it?? haha

well thank you *blush*.. I appreciate it.

Posted by John Allan: 

Posted by Soshanna: 
heh. this is funny to me.. i know its personal preference, but its just kind of weird how people can be soooo against them. I know there are a lot of photogs out there who won't shoot with girls who are not natural, but it seems silly to me. I have implants and so by their criteria, I'm not worthy of being shot for their book. Seems odd to discredit a model because of the fact she has saline instead of natural breasts..

Just to clarify Soshanna.
I absolutely love your look and would definately shoot with you. I probably wouldn't do topless, but you have so much more to offer images than your boobs.

John

Thank you for the compliment john. I appreciate it.

To argue the point of this forum though -

I have had my implants for 5 years, and they have become a part of me. I don't see them as implants.. just as my chest. They are part of what makes me me. For someone to tell me they would love to shoot me, but not my chest, is slightly offensive. It's like I have something defective that they find "unworthy" of their book. This is from a personal point of view.

If I switch to your point of view, I understand where you are coming from as you have the right to determine what goes into your book, and to tell me that you don't feel my chest would be something you would put in it. That's fine and like I said, up to you.

All I can say is that sometimes a girls motivation for obtaining implants can be genuine, and all of this talk about it being something horrid is just rude in its own aspect. It is something I have done, and something I will live with the rest of my life. Hearing people talk about how horrible they are gets a little upsetting.

Yes, there are HORRIBLE boob jobs, and those doctors are the ones who should be yelled at, but there are a lot of doctors who do great jobs, and will NOT work with a patient if they feel the patient is going to big, or doing something that is not reasonable. There are a lot of respectful doctors, and bashing all the women and doctors in the world who take part in this surgery is not fair. There are bad cases, and believe it or not, there are good cases.

I just think people should open their minds a little more. Just a little.

Posted by Soshanna: 

Posted by John Allan: 

Posted by Soshanna: 
heh. this is funny to me.. i know its personal preference, but its just kind of weird how people can be soooo against them. I know there are a lot of photogs out there who won't shoot with girls who are not natural, but it seems silly to me. I have implants and so by their criteria, I'm not worthy of being shot for their book. Seems odd to discredit a model because of the fact she has saline instead of natural breasts..

Just to clarify Soshanna.
I absolutely love your look and would definately shoot with you. I probably wouldn't do topless, but you have so much more to offer images than your boobs.

John

Thank you for the compliment john. I appreciate it.

To argue the point of this forum though -

I have had my implants for 5 years, and they have become a part of me. I don't see them as implants.. just as my chest. They are part of what makes me me. For someone to tell me they would love to shoot me, but not my chest, is slightly offensive. It's like I have something defective that they find "unworthy" of their book. This is from a personal point of view.

If I switch to your point of view, I understand where you are coming from as you have the right to determine what goes into your book, and to tell me that you don't feel my chest would be something you would put in it. That's fine and like I said, up to you.

All I can say is that sometimes a girls motivation for obtaining implants can be genuine, and all of this talk about it being something horrid is just rude in its own aspect. It is something I have done, and something I will live with the rest of my life. Hearing people talk about how horrible they are gets a little upsetting.

Yes, there are HORRIBLE boob jobs, and those doctors are the ones who should be yelled at, but there are a lot of doctors who do great jobs, and will NOT work with a patient if they feel the patient is going to big, or doing something that is not reasonable. There are a lot of respectful doctors, and bashing all the women and doctors in the world who take part in this surgery is not fair. There are bad cases, and believe it or not, there are good cases.

I just think people should open their minds a little more. Just a little.

Yes. Point taken.

I think in this business, we disconnect the various aspects of a model's "look" and physical characteristics from the model as a person and don't realize sometimes that objectifying/dissecting her look while discussing what does and doesn't work for a particular project or whatnot can be hurtful.

Anyway - I love you...

Posted by XtremeArtists ?: 
Personally I think the trend towards oversized fake breasts is silly.

If you have to do it, get it under the muscle and keep it realistic in porportion.

Unless you want to do Maxim and strip, then get the biggest, fakest, most tasteless cans you can afford.

LOL

Posted by Soshanna: 
heh. this is funny to me.. i know its personal preference, but its just kind of weird how people can be soooo against them. I know there are a lot of photogs out there who won't shoot with girls who are not natural, but it seems silly to me. I have implants and so by their criteria, I'm not worthy of being shot for their book. Seems odd to discredit a model because of the fact she has saline instead of natural breasts..

Yes, I agree...

Posted by theda: 
Alexandra, your knowledge of medicine is astounding. What journals do you get your information from?

To answer your question Theda here is what I found from a site called plastic surgery.net

Deflation/Rupture:
The most common concern for patients that have undergone breast augmentation is that their breast implants would deflate either through a leak within the implant or through a rupture of the implant shell. There are many potential causes for deflation/rupture and the solution to this problem involves additional surgery to remove and possibly replace the breast implant.

Capsular Contracture:
In this situation, capsule (scar tissue) that typically forms around the breast implant tightens and then squeeze the breast implant. Typically following infection, symptoms of capsular contracture range from mild firmness and discomfort to severe pain and movement of the breast implant. To rectify this, additional surgery will be needed to remove the breast implant capsule tissue and possibly the breast implant itself.

Infection:
Like any other surgery, infection can result during breast augmentation. However, treating infections are harder in patients with breast implants than in patients with normal body tissues.

Breast Tissue Atrophy/Chest Wall Deformity:
This can result when the pressure of the breast implant has caused the patient's breast tissue to thin and shrink. This phenomenon can occur while the breast implants are in place or following breast implant removal.

Additional Surgeries:
The likelihood that a breast augmentation patient will have to undergo additional surgeries in their lifetime has increased dramatically. Surgeries will be necessary at some point to replace or remove the breast implant.

Oh here's more from The Candian Women's Health Network

For decades, women who have undergone breast implant surgery have reported high implant failure rates and general, unidentifiable illness. In 1992, silicone gel-filled implants were subject to government moratoriums in the United States and in Canada, until such time as their safety could be assured. In the years that have followed, researchers have tried to find answers. In the meantime, breast implantation continues to become more and more popular, with saline-filled implants taking the place of their silicone predecessors.

Many women who choose breast implantation are very happy with the results of their surgery. They report psychological and emotional benefit from their new body image. However, many women report side-effects and feel that their short-term and long-term health has been compromised.

In Canada, thousands of women have chosen breast implant surgery, including an estimated 25,000 or more in British Columbia alone. As in all of North America, approximately 20% of these surgeries are for reconstruction after cancer or prophylactic mastectomy, or to correct under- or non-developed breasts. The other 80% are performed as cosmetic augmentation. Such surgery is not considered “essentialâ€? and is therefore paid for privately rather than through public insurance. However, if there are health consequences to this surgery – ranging from the well established local complications to the very controversial systemic complications – these women enter the public health care system for their care.

Breast implant research is beset by challenges, not the least of which is the lack of a central registry allowing health care professionals or researchers to track women who receive breast implants or to do any follow-up. But we do know that a very high number of women have been affected by breast implant-related complications. A Mayo Clinic study in the United States, for example, found that 25% of women with breast implants suffered local complications requiring additional surgery within five years. We also know that there were 103,343 adverse reaction reports associated with silicone breast implants and 23,454 reports involving saline implants received by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between January 1, 1985 and September 17, 1996.

In a recent study, researchers at the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health have discovered relatively high complication rates for breast implantation in Canada as well. Data collected from a study group of 147 women who had undergone breast implant surgery were compared to data from a non-implant comparison group (583 women). Researchers found that women who have or have had breast implants visited doctors and specialists significantly more than women who had not undergone implant surgery. The study also indicated that women with breast implants were more than four times as likely to be hospitalized, and that the number of hospitalizations they experienced over the study period was significantly higher than among women without implants.

The researchers also found that over half (51%) of respondents from the study group reported at least one additional breast-implant related surgery subsequent to the initial implantation. Of those, half (49%) had undergone one additional surgery, 23% had undergone two, 11% had undergone three, and 17% had undergone four or more additional surgeries. For some of these women, the complications were enough to convince the women that they no longer wanted breast implants. 40% of respondents had had their implants permanently removed.

Breast implant surgery is not deemed medically necessary and is performed – and paid for – privately in the vast majority of cases. However, it appears to directly contribute to an increased need for public health care services among the women receiving these devices. If, as the literature suggests, serious local complication rates are at least 25% – and more likely are 50% or higher – there are many thousands of women in Canada who are using greater health care resources as a result of this surgery, and whose health and well-being may be at risk.

Complications with Breast Implantation
There are three major groups of health complications associated with breast implants: local complications, systemic complications and psychological complications. Breast implant surgery also carries the same risks associated with any surgical implantation of a medical device. All aesthetic complications (dissatisfaction with size, position, etc., of the implants) are not funded by public health care; however, all health complications resulting from the implant, including the removal of the implants, is covered by publicly funded health care.

1. Surgical complications
Any surgery – and breast implantation is no different – involves risks such as complications of general anesthesia, infection, haematoma, hemorrhage, thrombosis, skin necrosis, delayed wound healing and additional surgeries.

A woman who receives breast implant(s) will likely require additional surgery or surgeries related to her implant(s) over her lifetime. These procedures may include treatment of capsular contracture, correction of the implant’s size or position, infection control as the result of other local or systemic complications, or to prevent or treat leakage, rupture or other health problems.

2. Local complications
Local complications can range from very mild to very severe, and they affect a large percentage of women who undergo breast implant surgery. Capsular contracture is one of the most significant complications. Contraction of the wall of scar tissue surrounding the breast implant may cause hardness of the breast, discomfort and even severe pain. According to Health Canada, capsular contracture occurs, usually within two years of surgery, in approximately 25% of women who undergo breast implant surgery. Other researchers suggest the percentage is as high as 70%, and some estimate that 100% of women with breast implants will develop capsular contracture to some degree over the life of the implant.

Implant deflation and rupture caused by normal deterioration over time, breast trauma, undetected damage or shell weakness in the implant are significant complications; one study found that 70% of removed implants 11 to 15 years old were ruptured or leaking. In a U.S. government study, 2/3rds of 344 implanted women examined with MRI had ruptured implants. Deflation, leakage and rupture can result in the breast implant filling being spread through the body. The salt-water solution contained within saline-filled implants should be harmless. However, partly because of the semi-porous nature of breast implant shells and partly because of faulty valves and difficulties inherent in the sterilization of breast implant materials, it has been suggested that the saline filler does not remain sterile. In one study, most explanted saline-filled breast implants, regardless of their age, had microbial growth in the implant and in the capsule surrounding the implant. If the filler was so contaminated, it would no longer be considered harmless upon deflation or rupture.

Other complications include change in shape or volume of the breast; change in breast sensation; calcium deposits; mammographic interference, and breast/chest discomfort or pain and nipple discharge.

3. Systemic complications
Systemic complications appear most frequently several years after breast implantation. These complications tend to present as a cluster of symptoms, including those associated with autoimmune diseases, connective tissue diseases, “human adjuvant diseaseâ€? and/or fibrositis/fibromyalgia-like disorders. (The classic autoimmune and connective tissue diseases thought to be associated with silicone implants are scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren-Larsson syndrome.) Women with breast implants have also reported granulomas and lymph node involvement, chronic flu, respiratory problems and infections. The cluster of symptoms reported by these women often includes those present in more than one such disease. Cancer also remains a concern – albeit a smaller one – associated with breast implants.

The link between breast implants and systemic complications is still not clearly understood. However epidemiologic research has not shown a significant increased risk.

4. Psychological complications
Unfortunately, studies of the psychological consequences of breast augmentation have been largely anecdotal, consisting primarily of surgeons’ reports of their patients’ satisfaction. These reports suggest that typically 70% or more of patients report satisfaction with their surgical outcome. However, such investigations clearly have serious problems. Firstly, how many patients will admit, face-to-face with their surgeon, that they are not satisfied with the results of their surgery? Secondly, how many surgeons will admit, face-to-face with their colleagues, that their patients are not satisfied?

There are many studies that suggest cosmetic surgery in general leads to immediate post-operative improvements in body image, quality of life and depressive symptoms. Other studies, however, have found that women who undergo removal of breast implants (explantation) report higher levels of breast anxiety, upper torso dissatisfaction and depression both before and after implant removal, compared to women who have undergone other cosmetic surgery (surgical controls) and women who have not undergone any cosmetic surgery (non-surgical controls). These findings suggest that breast implant surgery leads to poorer psychological well-being, rather than better, for many women

Policy Issues
In Canada the only breast implants now widely available are saline-filled implants (a silicone bag filled with salt water). These implants, however, have not been reviewed by Health Canada.

The Medical Devices Regulations were introduced in Canada in 1975. These required notification of devices within 10 days of being put on the market, but involved no evaluation. These regulations were amended in 1977 so that evidence of safety and effectiveness was required before marketing. The list of devices covered by this amendment did not, however, include breast implants. In October 1982, a further change to the regulations was implemented, which extended the pre-marketing review to all devices, including breast implants, designed to be implanted in tissues or bodies for more than 30 days.

The 1982 amendment required all implantable devices to go through a premarket evaluation of safety and effectiveness data in order to obtain a Notice of Compliance and be allowed for sale in Canada. This evaluation included a review by scientists at Health and Welfare Canada’s Bureau of Radiation and Medical Devices of animal and human test results and manufacturing data supplied by the manufacturer. However, the review was required only for devices introduced after the date the amendment became effective. Because most saline-filled implants were available for sale before this date, they were exempted from the pre-market review.

Currently, despite the moratorium on silicone gel-filled breast implants, Health Canada has begun allowing their use in certain circumstances. There are suggestions that their popularity is again growing. Even as these silicone gel-filled implants are being reintroduced, there has still been little evaluation of the effects of the saline-filled implants that are currently widely available. This represents a gap in public policy and should be addressed by Health Canada.

So as you see, this is more proof that implants are NEVER good and are ALWAYS going to be harmful to women.

Posted by theda: 
And if it's on the internet, it must be true! I'd ask when that tidbit of Canadian wisdom was written, but I'm not sure I care.

I didn't read the replies above.

I just read that and thought, "I bet Theda is addressing Alexandra with that statement."

Sure enough, I looked above and that was exactly right.

Where would the entertainment of MM forums be without the Theda/Alexandra bickering?

Posted by KM von Seidl: 
Being an ex anthropology major I wonder what conclusions/theories future archeologists will draw when finding large numbers of women (and a few males) with round pieces of plastic sitting on top of their rib cages.

LOL

That's brilliant! I never thought of that one ...