During a dispute, the woman was reportedly stabbed by her husband, but the weapon became lodged within her implant. She had undergone a breast augmentation just five years prior to the attack.

The Russian source of the story (Pravda.ru) reports:

“During the fight, the man stabbed his wife in the left breast. He was apparently trying to kill her since he was targeting the heart. However, the knife did not even reach the thorax because of the large breast implant.”

Silicone implants are known for their cohesive properties. Unlike saline breast implants, they do not immediately deflate, but maintain their shape if a rupture occurs. The implant “did not leak” but “preserved its original shape” Russian news reports said.

ABC spoke with NYU plastic surgeon Dr. Mihye Choi about the story. “It might have been leaking inside the capsule, but you don’t want to ignore leaking even if it is inside the capsule,” he said.

After receiving medical care for the stabbing, the victim returned to her plastic surgery clinic to have the implant replaced.

“It comes with these different sized inserts, so you can figure out which look you like,” explains the young lady in this video from Natrelle.

The second half of the video is narrated by two plastic surgeons. “Before the pre-consultation kit, many women were asked to fill a plastic bag with different substances like hair gel or rice to simulate what a breast implant would look like,” explains Dr. Jennifer Walden.

Now the options are greater and more accurate. Ordering a Natrelle Pre-Consultation kit gives women the freedom to try different implant sizes in the privacy of their own homes.

Watch the entire video to see real breast augmentation before and after photos from patients of different ages. Natrelle breast implants are available at the Fairfax plastic surgery practice of Dr. Christopher Hess.

For patients and consumers, the most pertinent aspects of the document include the “Summary of key findings” and the “Recommendations for Patients Who Have or Who Are Considering Breast Implants.”

Some of the silicone implant safety findings are as follows:

• When used as labeled, silicone implants “have a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness.”
• No association has become evident between silicone implants and connective tissue disease, breast cancer, or reproductive problems.
• An MRI is still the recommended method for detecting silicone implant ruptures.
• The longer you have silicone implants (or saline implants), the more likely it is that you will experience a complication or adverse outcome. Choosing breast augmentation or implant-based breast reconstruction means monitoring your implants for a lifetime. “Between 20 to 40 percent of augmentation patients and 40 to 70 percent of reconstruction patients had reoperations during the first 8 to 10 years after they received their implants,” the FDA reports. Although “routine replacement is not necessary,” a revision is necessary for many women.
• Patients who have breast implants have a very small, but increased likelihood of receiving diagnosis of analplastic large cell lymphoma.

The FDA continues to monitor the safety and effectiveness of silicone implants. For updates on the latest findings, visit www.fda.gov/breastimplants.

ASPS Responds to FDA White Paper on Silicone Implant Safety

Today, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons responded to the white paper. An email to member surgeons stated that ASPS

1. Agrees that “silicone gel-filled breast implants have a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness when used as labeled,”
2. Accepts the Agency’s position that women who receive silicone gel-filled breast implants for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes will need to monitor the devices over their lifetime.
3. Believes that the FDA white paper is informative and will be a good resource for plastic surgeons and patients
4. Shares the FDA’s view in the white paper that more than 90 percent of patients are satisfied with their outcomes from breast implant surgery.
5. Will continue to collaborate with the FDA to ensure that science forms the basis for all decision-making on breast implants

“Radiographic follow-up of breasts treated with fat grafting is not problematic and should not be a hindrance to the procedure,” concludes study author Dr. Michaël Veber, of University of Lyon-Léon Bérard Cancer Center in France

An article about this research was published in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal.

During fat grafting for breast surgery, a surgeon removes small amounts of fat from one part of the body (such as the hips or thighs via liposuction) and then transfers it to the breasts.

To determine if fat grafting for breast augmentation, what the authors call “lipomodeling,” caused any problems with mammogram screenings for breast cancer, the researchers reviewed mammograms performed 16 months (on average) after lipomodeling in 31 women.

In over half of the cases, the mammograms showed no abnormalities. Some women’s mammograms showed small calcifications or cysts that were thought to be caused by the fat transfer procedure, and a few women had other abnormalities related to scarring from their breast surgery. However, the authors concluded none of these changes were considered likely to raise suspicions of breast cancer on routine mammograms.

In 20 women, researchers evaluated mammograms performed before and after fat transfer. They found no significant differences in the mammographic results from before to after breast surgery. Overall, breast density remained stable over time and “radiographic follow-up was not more difficult after lipomodeling.”

The authors suggest that women undergoing lipomodeling have a complete evaluation — including mammograms — before and after the procedure.

According to a New York Times article, Chavez appeared on state television last weekend to denounce Venezuela’s burgeoning breast enhancement market, criticizing the amount of money spent on cosmetic procedures and shaming plastic surgeons who Chavez says “convince some women that if they don’t have some big bosoms, they should feel bad.”

Leading Venezuelan plastic surgeon Dr. Ramon Zapata disagreed with Chavez’s take on cosmetic breast surgery, saying, “I don’t think there should be any type of discrimination against these aesthetic procedures.”

El Nacional, an opposition newspaper, unsurprisingly also contested Chavez’s comments, comparing the Venezuelan leader to Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi and saying, “Now comes this antiquated, militaristic, coarse, repressive attitude on the freedom of women to do what they want with their bodies.”

Regardless of whether one agrees with Chavez’s comments, they are well-timed in their delivery. Billboards in the country’s capital advertise loans for plastic surgery, gossip blogs teem with talk about cosmetic enhancement and the Venezuelan Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that between 30,000 and 40,000 Venezuelan women seek breast implant surgery each year.

Although Chavez has questioned the motives of breast augmentation patients, asking, “What is this, friend?!” he has not yet taken any action to prevent the thousands of Venezuelan women who desire bigger breasts from seeking plastic surgery, nor Venezuelan plastic surgeons from offering the procedure.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

“I saw my stomach for the first time in the shower,” said Jeanne. She describes the discomfort she experienced with large breasts before surgery, and now the feeling of having a more manageable body shape. On the show, their plastic surgeon talks to Kathy Lee and Hoda about the cost of breast reduction, as well as some details about health insurance coverage.

Read more about breast reduction and  breast augmentation in Fairfax.

via ABC news:

Each week, a group of women competes head-to-head in such challenges as writing wedding vows and planning honeymoons.  The winner receives the chance to choose a plastic surgery procedure from her “wish list.” She’s given the procedure immediately, and results are shown at the start of the following week’s episode.

Is it ethical to give away plastic surgery as a prize?  Professional organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons prohibit their members from participating in a raffle or contest in which the prize is a plastic surgery procedure (a treatment requiring an incision).  The ethical objections stem primarily from the possibility that a winner of the contest would not be a suitable or safe candidate for surgery.

Some medical practitioners are not governed by such ethical principles, especially outside the United States.  Still, it’s becoming more common to see contests and raffles for procedures that have wide public appeal, such as breast augmentation.

In Venezuela, a political candidate running for office in the National Assembly is raffling off breast implants in an attempt to raise funds for his campaign.  According to Reuters news, the candidate told voters that the raffle was nothing more than a “financing mechanism.”

Although the winner of such a contest could achieve good results from surgery, raffles and contests are not acceptable replacements for proper patient selection.  If you’re considering breast augmentation, seek out a board certified plastic surgeon who is practicing in accordance with a specific and reputable code of ethics.

According to the aesthetic society, overall demand for cosmetic treatments dropped only two percent in 2009. While plastic surgeons were clearly affected by the recession, many around the country are seeing strong demand in their communities and are therefore very optimistic.

Here in Fairfax, Dr. Hess says that in 2009 his practice saw an increase of 11.5 percent over 2008.

Doctor Robert Grenley of Seattle Plastic Surgery says his practice saw fewer patients during late 2008 and early 2009, followed by increasing demand and then the busiest winter in the 24-year history of his practice. “Although the economy continues to have problems, particularly in terms of unemployment, patients who desire to have cosmetic surgery are finding a way to have it done,” said Dr. Grenley.

In Boston, plastic surgeon Fouad Samaha offered a very similar account of the economic factors affecting his practice:

“Many of our patients felt the economic squeeze in late 2008 and 2009, mostly due to financial insecurity and limited access to credit. Over the past several months, we have seen a strong resurgence in patient interest and volume that appears to be well ahead of economic indicators. I believe that this is testimony to the high level of motivation that people have for self-improvement, feeling better about their appearance, and increasing their self-confidence.”

The general consensus appears to be that various non-surgical treatments and continued interest in breast augmentation are the “recession-proof” offerings keeping doctors busy.

Breast Augmentation Top Surgery 2nd Year Running

For the second year in a row, breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery, with 311,957 estimated procedures nationwide. Doctors have suggested several reasons for the continued success of breast augmentation:

To the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Renato Saltz mentions the reintroduction of silicone gel breast implants as a factor pushing breast augmentation procedures to the top.

Although Dr. Hess agrees, he says, “most young women who are getting breast augmentation were only toddlers when the moratorium on silicone gel implants came down; to them it’s ancient history and they don’t really know what went on.”

The latest statistics show that breast implants are indeed favored among younger women. For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.

More statistics for 2009 will be released in the coming weeks from other professional groups. We look forward to comparing them and continuing this discussion of cosmetic surgery trends.

Read the ASAPS press release

Do breast implants really need to be replaced every ten years?

Breast implants do not have an expiration date and there is no requirement to have them replaced at ten years. However, according to the Institute of Medicine, the average life expectancy of a breast implant is 16 years. FDA studies of silicone breast implants suggest that most implants last 7-12 years. However, some breast implants clearly last much longer. So, there really is no definitive recommendation. Speaking for myself, I am at 25 years and counting. My breast implants have far outlasted my marriage!

According to an article by The National Research Center for Women & Families, “the likelihood of rupture increases every year.” But as long as the breast implant is intact and you are not experiencing any complications, there is no real need to have a breast implant revision.

After 25 years, I am not experiencing any major complications or significant positioning problems, even after two pregnancies and breastfeeding, however I am considering breast implant replacement. I want to be proactive and avoid any complications, but I also want to benefit from new technology and use this opportunity to achieve a new look.

What is Breast Implant Revision?

Breast implant revision involves the removal or replacement of your current breast implants. Plastic surgeons recommend an evaluation and possibly replacement of breast implants around 15 years after breast augmentation. Evidence shows that some time between 10 and 20 years after surgery, most women will either be experiencing some type of complication or desire an improved appearance of the breast. Over time, positioning changes may occur due to accidents or natural causes. Breast implant revision surgery can resolve these concerns and provide a more satisfactory breast appearance.

Some of the common reasons one might consider a breast implant revision surgery are as follows:

1. Encapsulation, i.e. capsular contracture, which consists of excessive scar tissue development that can place pressure on the implant
2. Folding or wrinkling of the implant
3. Improper implant positioning
4. Implant rupture or leakage
5. Desire to improve breast appearance
6. Desire to use improved implant technology
7. Aging and potential weakening of the breast implants

A revision surgery offers the patient a chance to alter shape and size; after all, it is a whole new decade and your lifestyle is quite likely different than when you originally chose to get breast implants.

Got a question or comment about Michelle’s post? Email Her

The leading theories for implant rupture include….

1. Aging of the implant elastomer shell
2. Excessive handling or stressing the implant during surgery
3. Excessive stress on the implant due to trauma or intense physical activity
4. Over filling or under filling of the implants.

The underlying result of all these theories is damage to the silicone elastomer shell resulting in microscopic fractures or areas of weakness leading to failure.  So the question is, do you really know when the implant will fail?  Unfortunately it might be within 5 years of placement or never.

So what happens when a breast implant fails?

If a saline breast implant fails it’s usually pretty obvious.  If the implant develops a catastrophic failure then the implant will fail like a tire blow out.  And it’s inevitable that this will occur when you’re getting ready to go out for a dinner party or the like.  Occasionally the implant will develop a small leak that is only obvious after it has been leaking for several days and the volume decreases enough to appreciate.  In either case it’s important to make an appointment with your plastic surgeon as soon as possible to avoid having to wear extra padding in the bra.

If a silicone breast implant ruptures you’ll never know it.  The reason is that the capsule that develops around the breast implant will contain the silicone gel.  In the older style implants some of the silicone oils could migrate through this capsule.  However, silicone is inert and this oil did not result in any disease or disorder (contrary to popular claims made by the media).  Today the cohesive gel implants that we use have silicone that does not migrate and thus are even safer than the previous implants.  And if you have any concerns, the “gummy bear” implant should ease your mind.

If the saline breast implants rupture, then the breast implant repair process is simple.   The old implants are removed and new implants of equal size are inserted.  The surgery should be performed within a few weeks of rupture to prevent contracture of the pocket.  If a breast lift or other procedure is necessary, that can be discussed with your surgeon.  If a silicone breast implant ruptures it’s a sticky, gooey mess.  The capsule and implant should be removed together if possible, but that is often impossible and removal of the old silicone can become tedious.  Once all of the silicone gel is removed the new implants – silicone or saline -  can be put in place.

While it may be stressful, don’t worry when your implant ruptures.  There’s time to correct the situation and return your breasts to their previous state.  Call Dr. Hess at 703.752.6608 and he’ll help you regain the appearance you desire.