Breast implants are in the news - the French government recommends 30,000 women to have PIP ( Poly Implant Prosthese ) implants removed free of charge because of a 5% rupture rate. British health officials so far disagree - an NHS Review Body will report back / make recommendations next week.
40,000 British women have the implants, which were ( finally ) banned last year because they contain non-medical grade silicon. There is NO breast cancer risk.
In the UK plastic surgery should only be performed by a surgeon on the Specialist Register of Plastic Surgeons maintained by the GMC. Not all UK doctors practising ( ! ) as cosmetic surgeons are on this list. Women have about 90% of all cosmetic procedures ( top 4 are breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, face/neck lifts and breast reduction ). The top 4 for men are " nose jobs ", eyelid surgery, ear correction and liposuction. More men than ever are having breast reduction for " man boobs ".
In the Philippines cosmetic surgery is increasing - as in the UK - but ANY licensed doctor can carry out such surgery without legal impediment. There are formal 5-6 year training programmes in accredited hospitals - surgeons completing these should be chosen.
Breast cancer ( the commonest type in UK and Philippines ) is usually treated surgically in the first instance, with immediate or delayed reconstruction ( implant ) if needed. Other plastic surgery procedures are performed for health reasons ( stomach-stapling ), rightly free in the UK.
I have always tried to be non-judgemental on " lifestyle choices ", such as smoking, which contribute to so many illnesses - some would call them stupidity. But already there is resentment from some members of the UK public that NHS money might be spent on women whose breast enlargement didn't deliver the right result. The same could apply to any other procedure carried out purely for cosmetic purposes. If indeed this is to be next week's decision, I'm going to find it harder to justify.
