Plastic Surgery,Skin Care,Cosmetic Surgery

Archive for June, 2009

The non-cosmetic clinical indications for the use of breast implants are for breast reconstruction, sex reassignment surgery, and for abnormalities, usually congenital, that affect the shape and size of the breast. Non-clinical indications, which are the most common reason women get breast implants, are considered cosmetic and are not covered by any health insurers. And of all the breast plastic surgery procedures performed in 2006 in the United States, 329,000 were for breast augmentations.

Back in 1962 the first woman was implanted with silicone implants. There are two primary types of breast implants: saline-filled and silicone-gel-filled implants

Doctors Thomas Cronin and Frank Gerow, two Houston, Texas, plastic surgeons, developed the first silicone breast prosthesis with the Dow Corning Corporation in back in 1961. Current saline implant devices are manufactured with thicker, room temperature vulcanized shells. There have been several types of breast implants developed other than the two most common, saline filled and silicone gel filled, including polypropylene string and soy oil, but these are not commonly used, if at all; leakage of oil into the body during a rupture would not be good..

Because the saline implants are empty when they are surgically inserted, the scar is smaller than is necessary than for the silicone gel breast implants which are already filled with silicone before they are placed. Saline-filled implants are the most common implant used in the United States due to some restrictions on silicone implants. This may change. They are seldom ever used in other countries. Silicone gel implants have a silicone shell and are filled with a viscous type silicone gel.

An intracapsular rupture can progress to outside the capsule, called an extracapsular rupture, and it is generally agreed that both conditions indicate the need for removal of the implant. Since the early 1990s, a number of independent reviewers have examined studies concerning links between silicone gel breast implants and systemic diseases and the consensus of these reviews is that there is no clear evidence of a causal link between the implantation of silicone breast implants in breast plastic surgery and systemic disease. It is always good to know who is funding these studies and that should clearly be stated.

Countries outside the United States have not endorsed routine MRI screening, and have taken the position that MRI’s should be reserved only for cases involving suspected clinical rupture or to confirm mammographic or ultrasound studies that suggest rupture.

When silicone implants rupture they rarely ever deflate, and the silicone from the implant can leak out into the intracapsular space around the implant. Thousands of women claim to have become ill from their breast implants. These complaints include neurological and rheumatological problems. When breast implants are removed that have been implanted for a long period of time, a mastopexy is often performed to tighten up the loose skin. This is additional surgery usually done at the same time and at an additional expense.

One study reported that only 30% of ruptures in asymptomatic patients are accurately detected by experienced plastic surgeons, compared to 86% that were detected by MRI. The age and design of the implant is an important factor in rupture, but estimating rupture rates of contemporary devices has been difficult for a variety of reasons, mainly because implant designs have changed somewhat over time.

Local complications that happen with breast implants include post-operative bleeding, fluid collections, surgical site infection, breast pain, alterations in nipple sensation, interference with breast feeding, visible wrinkling, asymmetric appearance, wound dehiscence with potential implant exposure, thinning of the breast tissue, and disruption of the natural plane between the breasts.

Manufacturers and doctors are required to let women know that implants are not permanent devices and that most recipients will probably need additional surgery to replace or remove their implants.

And make sure the plastic surgeon you choose, if you decide to do so, is board certified. Some doctors in specialties other than plastic surgery, like dermatologists, perform breast plastic surgery like breast augmentation. Choose a board certified plastic surgeon instead. And it’s just a reminder that breast augmentation is an elective cosmetic breast plastic surgery. Make sure to be aware of all the risks and complications and ask others who have implants for an honest evaluation of their experience.

Today more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits nature has to offer and are seeking environmentally friendly products in their homes and in their skin care regimen. Therefore, it is no surprise that skin care manufacturers are catering to this wave of eco-friendly consumers and labeling products natural and/or organic.

The words natural and organic are interpreted and implied as the same meaning, however, there are distinct differences between the two.

Natural – this implies that one, some, or all of the ingredients are unprocessed and comes from nature, such as fruits, vitamins and minerals for instance; Aloe Vera is a natural product thus a product with Aloe Vera could be labeled natural. However, that does not mean the natural ingredient was grown organically and it does not mean that the skin care product is not mixed with synthetic/chemical ingredients. The term natural is not regulated in the skin care industry so the term natural is used loosely and extensively in marketing ploys.

Organic – means that no chemicals or pesticides were used during the growth of various plants and herbs. Additionally, the processes to extract the various oils from the plant did not use any type of chemical processing.  If a product with Aloe Vera in it is labeled organic, then the Aloe would have had to been grown without any type of pesticides and there would be no chemical processing to extract the oils from the plant.  Thus the product could be labeled organic.

A good analogy would be a skin care product which lists papaya and Aloe Vera. If the papaya, and Aloe Vera were grown with any type of pesticides then the skin care product can not be labeled organic, however, it could be labeled all natural and still can contain harmful chemicals.

Additionally, just because a product is labeled natural or organic that does not mean you will not have an allergic reaction. A product made with beeswax or honey would not be recommended for people that are allergic to bees, a product with almond oil would not be recommended for people with nut allergies. A skin test is always recommended with any new skin care product whether it be a synthetic, natural or organic product.

The word botanical is used a lot in skin care products too. This implies that the product includes ingredients that are derived from plants and/or trees, such as Aloe Vera and coconut. Again, botanical products can be labeled as natural but does not mean they are also organic.

Currently there are no legal standards for the terms organic and/or natural for personal care products sold in the United States. Therefore, skin care manufacturers are allowed to make all kinds of claims that their products are pure, natural and/or organic. A case in point is Clairol Herbal Essences which gave users an “organic experience”, however there isn’t much about this product that is herbal or organic as it contains more than a dozen synthetic petrochemicals and has a moderate toxicity rating. Visit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics on the web to read more about your skin care products.

The skin care product industry is a billion dollar business and the claims they make concerning their products may or may not be true. Additionally, if you are paying top dollar for cosmetics that read pure, natural or organic, read the label, research and decide for yourself. The most prominent ingredient on the label will be at the top of the ingredient list and the least ingredient at the bottom. So if your natural or organic ingredient is at the bottom of the ingredient list chances are the amount in the product is minute and has no significant value for your skin.

As a personal note, I would like to state that I do believe in the natural and organic concept in skin care products, although if I am buying natural or organic products I expect them to be just, natural with safe synthetic chemicals or truly organic. There are so many chemicals in skin care products that can be harmful to your health and these chemicals are so detrimental to our environment so I read the labels and do the research to find some “green” in the products I use.

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