Silicone Implants Reconsidered;Some Say FDA Is Moving Too Fast

Washington Post ^ | 21 JUL 2003 | Marc Kaufman, Washington Post Staff Writer

[onedoug]

After more than a decade of sharply restricted sales because of health concerns, silicone gel breast implants are poised for an unusual return to the market. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing an application to approve the controversial devices, and close observers believe it will rule on the subject this year.

The National Organization for Women and the consumer group Public Citizen fear that the FDA is moving too fast, and will call today for the agency to slow considerably its review process. They say that the long-term studies needed to determine whether there is a health risk from silicone gel have not yet been done, and that some scientists remain concerned about serious health consequences.

[onedoug]

Don't worry about any women's health concerns with regard to abortion though. Fast-track that, eh?

[bedolido]

very dangerous. I have seen silicone implants removed from women after 10 years. They were all black and all had linked. Nasty stuff. Why don't they stick with salene (not sure of the spelling). If the implant bursts, it'll desolve into the womans system.

I don't know how many men here have felt implants... they do NOT feel at all like regular breasts. The ones I felt were all hard or semi-hard. They ended up being the only thing hard in the room.

[bedolido]

The ones I felt were all hard or semi-hard. They ended up being the only thing hard in the room.

Forgot to add, I worked as a volunteer at a breast inspection station at the Califonia border.

[Hodar]

I have seen silicone implants removed from women after 10 years. They were all black and all had linked.

Silicone is used for the specific reason that it is very stable (non-reactive), inorgantic (no nutrients for viri' nor bacteria). The type of silicone chosen was not happen-stance, it went through extensive toxicology studies, and has been used in various forms in humans ofr decades (hips, knees, artifical lung prosthetics, ect). The silicone is in an oxygen free environment, no ultra-violet rays can get to it, and a pretty constant temperature of 98.6 degrees. So, if it turned 'black' what do you suppose it reacted with??

[Bella]

The saline implants STILL have a silicone shell..

[RJCogburn]

very dangerous

A bogus opinion that is not backed up by objective evidence.

Studies comparing women with and without implants showed no increased risk of systemic disease. Of course, that was after the hysterics had convinced the idiot Kessler at FDA to remove them and after innocent companies were bankrupted.

[bedolido]

Maybe I didn't explain it correctly. Sorry. The implants were empty (they had all leaked). the blackness, I assume, was a mixture of old blood, possibly dead or injured tissue or something like that. There was NO silicone present.

[Bella]

Wasn't bogus...I guess you don't know any women who are sick and have died from the implants??

[Bella]

Maybe you should post a few pix of these implants after they've been removed from the women, and also pix of how their bodies are disformed..

[blau993]

I worked as a volunteer at a breast inspection station

How do you GET jobs like that? LOL

[Bella]

BTW, would you please tell the forum about the men who are just as ill as the women from their silicone penile implants.

[squidly]

Studies comparing women with and without implants showed no increased risk of systemic disease. Of course, that was after the hysterics had convinced the idiot Kessler at FDA to remove them and after innocent companies were bankrupted.

Absolutely correct. That was one of the bigger perpetrations of junk science every foisted on this country. It is proven that a lot of women got sick, but it was never proven why or from what.

[RJCogburn]

Wasn't bogus...I guess you don't know any women who are sick and have died from the implants??

No, I don't. And neither do you.

There are women who have implants who get sick and die, but at no greater rate than those without implants. It is hysteria that fuels the so-called link, not rational thought.

[bedolido]

Absolutely untrue. I was involved cases involving silicone implants. Study show the do cause disease and sickness, and other studies say they don't. So I guess it depends upon your source. So far dowl/corning (sorry about the spelling)has paid out in the hundreds of millions of dollars to woman who have been affected. They are set to make another large payment to the same woman within the next 2 years. This settlement will also be in the hundreds of millions. So far the scientists on this side have produced enough evidence to the arguement. You're repeating some skeptics words.

[Bella]

I guess you're unaware of the reports that Dow had hidden in Scandinavia since the 70's that proved they KNEW that silicone is toxic??

[squidly]

Quite unaware, since such reports were never introduced in court. Not that that stopped the ruling for the plaintiff.

[Bella]

The $ they're going to pay out is NOT to the same women that were paid before....this payment is to women who haven't been pd and won't be nearly a fraction that's truly due them...Dow=Corporate Greed..

[Bella]

I do have a copy of those reports..

[bedolido]

Absolutely correct. That was one of the bigger perpetrations of junk science every foisted on this country. It is proven that a lot of women got sick, but it was never proven why or from what.

As I just posted, Dow/Corning has paid in the hundreds of millions already and is set to pay again within the next 2 years. The scientific proof is on the ladies side, not Dow/Corning.