As over 10,000 women choose to pay for such surgery every year in the UK – and many more worldwide, including the Philippines – I would not judge their decisions, but hope they're well informed.



Implants are normally either silicone gel ( as liquid, gel, or solid, and of " medical grade ", not " industrial grade " which were prone to rupture ), or saline ( sterile salt water ).


Cosmetic surgery changes the size and/or shape of the breast(s). It’s not something to be taken lightly, not least because of the expense, and the further cost of necessary removal / replacement after 10 – 15 years. Very few such procedures are available free on our NHS – unless there are strong clinical and psychological reasons.



Such procedures should ONLY be carried out by a specialist in breast / cosmetic surgery - after consultation with, and referral by, the patient’s own doctor. It might be cheaper abroad ( there are top class specialists and hospitals in the Philippines ), but follow-up care is a vital part of the treatment.



Reconstructive breast surgery is different - and not the direct reason for this poll. Reconstruction restores shape to a breast after removal / mastectomy. It may be " immediate " / at the time of mastectomy. Perhaps a quarter of women now choose to have this ( with a silicone implant ), or it may be done as a later procedure ( with the patient’s own tissue / muscle ).



Breast cancer is unfortunately so common (http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....-Breast-cancer ) that many women will NEED either local removal or mastectomy. Some ( like Angelina Jolie ), with a genetic risk of future cancer, may opt for removal of both breasts as a precaution. While cosmetic implants don't appear to increase the risk of cancer, there is concern that they might cause a delay in diagnosis ( screening x-rays may be more difficult to interpret ).



The main age group of women who feel they would like breast implants is younger than those developing cancer. The outlook for breast cancer treatment and survival keeps improving.


I don’t like women who opt for cosmetic surgery less. However, it’s sad, in my opinion, that so many choose to pay for cosmetic surgery, when one in eight may have no choice in future but to have surgery to treat – and save – their lives.