BE AWARE AND INFORMED. DON’T BLINDLY BELIEVE ‘THE NEW ONES ARE SAFE’ SPIEL.
In 2024, ALL breast implants are still experimental devices lacking long term safety data. There is no standard protocol of medical care. And for the most-part there isn’t a system for tracking device failures, illness and/or patient notification of recalls.
Many plastic surgeons seeing the awareness collage included in this post will be quick to say that they are the ‘old’ breast implants and that the ‘new ones‘ are safe. However, the ‘new ones’ (current breast implants on the market) though touted as being safe / safer have similarly been subject to causing illness and cancers, device failures (including rupture, gel bleed, silicone migration), recalls, and manufacturer bankruptcy.
Up until the point of becoming subject to an international recall the Dow Corning silicone gel breast implants depicted were promoted as the ‘new ones‘ and superior to their predecessors. Women were told those implants would last their lifetime.
The actual sales pitch for The SILASTIC II Mammary Implant (the implants pictured):
“High Performance, in a direct comparison with current competitive ‘low bleed’ products. Superior Low Bleed characteristics and Greatly Enhanced Physical Properties.
Independent testing to be the Superior Implant in the marketplace today! SILASTIC II Mammary Implant, High Performance, represents years of research by Dow Corning, the recognized leader in silicone technology, to produce a ‘State of the Art’ mammary implant. The SILASTIC II Mammary Implant, High Performance, is the best product to meet today’s needs!
- Superior Low Bleed Characteristics
- Greatly Enhanced Physical Properties
- Available only from Dow Corning Wright
- High Performance Medical Grade Silicone Elastomer is available only from Dow Corning Wright.”
It was nothing more than clever marketing spin which resulted in harms caused to thousands of women.
Tweaks are made to breast implants and ‘new’ models are promoted with slick marketing campaigns. The ‘tweaks’ have often resulted in new and more serious harms, including cancers which have resulted in deaths.
Be aware that ‘new’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘safe’.