A Physician-Patient’s Perspective On Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants (NAPSA)—Dr. assess mylife.” G. Patrick Maxwell, M.D., F.A.C.S., Nashville Plastic Surgery, Nashville, TN is also pleased to have the ability to offer Allergan’s silicone breast implants to his patients. “After many years of providing silicone breast implants to my recon- Christine Rodgers, a Denver plastic surgeon, is inspired to help other women reshape their lives after breast cancer. For more than 22 years, she has been treating breast cancer patients and performing breast reconstructive surgery. Her professional experience became personal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. Now Dr. Rodgers, a four-year breast cancer survivor, draws upon her own experience every time she sees a new patient. With a new perspective, she is better able to connect with her patients and offer them a customized treatment based on their individual needs and desires. In addition, with the recent approval of Allergan’s silicone breast implants by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Rodgers is now able to provide an unprecedented array of implant options to patients in the United States who are seeking breast augmentation, reconstruction and revision surgery. Allergan’s silicone breast implants have been used with success for more than 25 years in over 60 countries and are the implants of choice in countries where both saline- and silicone gel-filled breast implants are widely available. Silicone gel- filled breast implants are among the most studied medical devices in existence, with thousands of peer-reviewed and published reports on studies, including robust epidemiological studies, supporting their safe use. The safety of Allergan’s silicone breast implants is supported by the company’s extensive pre-clinical device testing, their use in approximately 1,000,000 women worldwide and nearly a decade of U.S. clinical experience involving more than 80,000 women. Like many other medical devices on the market today, silicone breast implants have evolved over the last several decades. Today’s implants have an advanced technology and enhanced safety profile due to several refinements in product design and manufacturing, including a more cohesivesilicone gel. Today’s implants also have a thicker shell, which contains an additional barrier layer that is distinct from earlier breast implant devices and is designed to withstand more than 25 timestheforce of a normal mammogram without failure. As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Rodgers found herdecision to undergo breast reconstruction surgery following her double mastectomy a relatively simple one to make. “My goal for breast implant surgery struction patients, I can now offer all of my patients in the United States rejuvenation procedures such as breast implant surgery with silicone to help them restore and reshape their breasts after significant life events such as childbearing,” said Dr. Maxwell. Before deciding to undergo breast implant surgery, a woman should consult her plastic surgeon and seek the information she needs to understand the surgery and the new devices that are now available. For more information, visit www.breastimplantstoday.com. INAMED*Silicone-Filled Breast Implants are indicated for breast augmentation in women 22 years and older or for women undergoing was to restore my natural look, breast reconstruction or revision expectations and restore my nat- commonly reported adverse events in augmentation patients at four years post-implantation were: capsular contracture, breast pain, swelling, nipple complications, implant malposition and implant rupture. The most commonly reported adverse events in which I was confident I could do through the unique INAMED Matrix of breast implant options— it’s an unprecedented array of implant options. I was able to custom select the implant size, shape, texture and implant filler—saline or silicone gel—that would allow meto achieve a result that met my ural appearance,” said Dr. Rodgers. Since her surgery, Dr. Rodgers has a new approachin herprofessional role as a doctor and personal role as a mother, wife and friend. As a fellow breast cancer survivor and breast implant patient, she relates to her patients on a very personal level. Dr. Rodgers notes, “Not only did my silicone gel-filled breast implants give me added confidence to face the world after cancer, but the whole experience gave me a fresh perspective that allowed meto re- surgery. In clinical studies, the most reconstruction patients at four years post-implantation were: asymmetry, capsular contracture, swelling, wrinkling andinfection. Breast implant surgery should not be performed in women with active infections anywhere in their bodies, existing cancer or pre-cancer of their breasts who have not received adequate treatment for those conditions or who are currently pregnant or nursing. For complete patient safety information, please visit www. breastimplantstoday.com.
