Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

Hi. This is Dr. Thomas Fahey. I'm happy to answer any questions about the release of the report of the Institute of Medicine's Silicone Safety Implant Committee.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from doo: Have you noticed a decline in implants since the previous problems were reported?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

What's happened is there has been a change in the kind of implants since the report of difficulty with the pure silicone implants.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

Most implants today are saline in a silicone sac.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from MommaBear: I've had silicone implants since 1990 due to bilateral mastectomies. At what point should I be concerned at replacing them? The plastic surgeons I've questioned don't seem to know the answer.

Hsost Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

The answer depends on the type of implant and the manufacturer. There is some information about how the various implants, depending on who made them, will deteriorate.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

I think the best answer is you should be followed carefully by your doctors and if there is any difficulty, they should be replaced. Otherwise elective replacement can be done depending on who made them and when.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from mari: You indicated that there was no systemic damage attributed to breast implants but later noted that there could be local problems such as leakage. Isn't leakage a problem? Does the silicone just float around forever?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

I indicated there was no systemic meaning a change in the entire body related to the implant. But there are localized problems because of rupture or leakage.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

If there is leakage, the silicone tends to stay in the area of the implant, outside of the implant.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from El-Kabong: Do you anticipate any improvements to breast implant technology that will make them look more realistic and not so obviously fake?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

I would think with the information we now have that we will be seeing safer implants in the future and ones that will be constructed to be more realistic.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from TexasSweet: With this information now out, what impact will this have on other products used in the medical field that contain silicone?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

I think this really gets to the point that there have been millions of other medical devices using silicone without the same kind of noise and reaction related to the breast implants.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

None of these seem to have had safety problems.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from Dan Lewis: Regarding the patients who got ill: What evidence did you find that eliminated the implants as the cause?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

We have been unable to discover any specific reaction in the body to the implant. There have been some people who've claimed there was but it's been unreproducible.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

The other side of the complaints, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, occur in the general population, without any increase in these diseases in people who've had silicone implants.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from Waldo: Do implants serve any medical purpose?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

The most important medical purpose from my standpoint is to reconform the breast that has been lost to surgery for cancer.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

There are many people for whom this is extremely important such as young women. Other implants such as artificial knees and knuckles and others certainly have medical purpose as well.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from coyote-grrrl: How much money did the breast implant manufacturers contribute to have the safety of the implants tested?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

None.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

This [new report] essentially was funded by the National Science Foundation which received its money from the U.S. government.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from Zachary: How will these findings affect the various lawsuits concerning implants? How will this affect those sick women who now have silicone coursing through their veins?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

Everybody has a little bit of silicone. We're exposed in cosmetics, almost anything we come in contact with. Anyone in the Western world has a high exposure, not just from implants.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

Women who've had implants don't have silicone racing through their veins. I believe this study, which confirms other studies, should help people settle their lawsuits quickly.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from doo: Is there ever a time or condition that would have you recommend against an implant?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

Silicone implants have been banned by the FDA and an alternative has been developed -- the saline filled implant, which gives an excellent cosmetic result. Except for very unusual circumstances, I would recommend that saline implants be used rather than the old silicone-filled implants.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from TD: Doctor, by saying "safer implants" in the future . .. are you admitting the past implants were bad?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

The whole issue of whether they were bad implants really relates to their manufacturer. Nobody had a crystal ball that could define what would happen.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

If we look back and say an implant ruptured after seven years, that would be the definition of bad. The hope is implants will be developed that will have less of a tendency to rupture.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from El-Kabong: Can silicone be absorbed through the skin?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

I don't know the answer to that, but it's possible that very small amounts can be absorbed through the skin, such as we see in cosmetics.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Were the results shocking to you?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

No, this study confirmed several other large studies, one a very thorough study done in Great Britain several years ago.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

The only surprise for the members of the committee were that there were several local problems with implants not discussed with patients before receiving them.

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

This may be because it wasn't known. But once known, we feel it incumbent on the doctors and manufacturers to have very frank discussions with the patient before receiving them.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Question from ZACHARY: what about the FDA? Does it still ban implants?

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

The silicone-filled implant is still banned by the FDA, whether this will change or not, I couldn't say.

Host Chris_MSNBC says:

Closing remarks....

Host Dr_Thomas_Fahey says:

Thank you and good bye!