Are Breast Implants "Absolutely Safe?"
In 2007, the dollars spent on breast augmentation surgery in the United States was $1.5 billion. By 2012, the numbers are projected to top 2 billion per year. Statistics from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that breast augmentation headed the list of surgical procedures in 2008. For those women who have had mastectomies, implants will be presented as a standard part of the recovery process.
Carol Ciancutti-Leyva, director of the documentary “Absolutely Safe,” is the daughter of a cancer survivor. Her mother’s journey, from a double mastectomy to silicone implants in the early 70s – which resulted in chronic illness, formed the impetus for the film.
The documentary came out in 2007, after a ten-year struggle for funding. It is currently being booked for screenings on college campuses and is being used in classrooms devoted to women’s studies, bioethics, and public policy.
Currently, Ciancutti-Leyva is working to create strategic partnerships to mobilize an “Informed Consent” campaign about the use of breast implant devices.
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You are absolutely 100% right. Thank you. A piece of my story is 5 below you.
Thanks, Cheryl
"Absolutely Safe" opened my eyes to the dangers of breasts implants. What really angered me is that a woman with breast cancer is routinely advised by her physician to get implants as though it is all part of her treatment. Thank you Ms. Ciancutti-Leyva for making this informative film. I wish more woman would see it.
Please don't confuse your political agenda with science. Breast implants are the most studied of any device used in medicine. There is no "medical-industrial" conspiracy hiding information from consumers, and the suggestion of it is pure paranoia. At the end of the day, there are hundreds of independent studies which have examined this issue, many of which are ongoing longitudinal populations. There continues to be consistant findings in these women of no immunologic, rheumatologic, and cancer related phenomena.
While you may object to the fact that many women choose breast augmentation for aesthetic appeal, it is 100% wrong to suggest that there is evidence that either saline or silicone implants cause any known illness.
You can fool some of the women, some of the time...
When are breasts like cigarettes?
Big Tobacco said for years there was no "proof" that cigarette smoking caused cancer. They influenced scientists and legislation. Now, we all know the truth.
I know that I was sick and old before my time. I had an explantation and 6 months later I felt great. Today I am well.
Eventually, there will be enough women harmed by this mutilation that the truth will override Big Pharma's influence just as it did with Big Tobacco.
Sharon Wilson
in Texas