Breast Implants and other Cosmetic Procedures
Testimony of Dr. Diana Zuckerman at the FDA meeting on Juvederm Voluma XC
Testimony on Juvederm Voluma XC FDA Advisory Committee on General and Plastic Surgery Devices, Caitlin Kennedy, Senior Fellow, May 2, 2013 Read More
Will Breast Implants Improve Your Life?
Despite the claims of plastic surgeons that breast implants improve patients’ self-esteem and quality of life, there is no scientific support for those statements. Read More
Update on ALCL Lymphoma for Women with Breast Implants
There is growing evidence that ALCL, a type of cancer of the immune system, can be caused by breast implants that are filled with either silicone or saline, and that the sooner the implants are removed, the more likely that the woman will recover. Read More
Are Breast Implants Safe?: New Questions
The FDA announced that saline and silicone gel breast implants were linked to a rare cancer of the immune system; in an unrelated scandal, tens of thousands of defective breast implants were recalled in Europe. These developments illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the safeguards intended to protect patients in different countries from unsafe breast implants and other medical devices. Read More
Adolescents, Celebrity Worship, and Cosmetic Surgery
A new study shows that media portrayals of celebrities influence how adolescents feel about their looks and influence their decisions to undergo cosmetic surgery. Young adults are not just mimicking the clothing and hairstyles of their favorite celebrities, but rather undergoing invasive procedures to feel better about how they look. Read More
Breast Implants and Cancer of the Immune System
The FDA has reported growing evidence that breast implants are associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare cancer of the immune system. Read More
Consumer group questions review of breast implants
Consumer safety advocates are questioning the Food and Drug Administration about incomplete and seemingly erroneous data used to support the safety of silicone breast implants in an agency review last year. The FDA concluded last summer that silicone-gel implants are basically safe as long as women understand they come with complications. Read More
Women’s health advocates question FDA about missing safety data on silicone breast implants
AP News story on NRC’s letter to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA Commissioner, on the missing data for breast implants. Read More
FDA Needs to Provide Breast Implant Patients and Physicians with Unreported Industry Data about Quality of Life, Connective Tissue Symptoms, Rupture Rates per Patient, and Other Complications
January 5, 2012 Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, Director Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration Silver Spring, MD 20993 RE: FDA Needs to Provide Breast Implant Patients and Physicians with Unreported Industry Data about Quality of Life, Connective … Read More
UPDATE 2011: Are Silicone Breast Implants Safe?
Women who consider breast implants often think of them as a one-time investment in their appearance. Unfortunately, the latest research shows that if they get silicone gel implants, they are likely to have many complications and will need numerous additional surgeries. Read More