Fw: The Danger of Liposuction, Etc.

[Guest guest]

From: ilena rose <ilena@...>

Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 1:57 AM

Subject: The Danger of Liposuction, Etc.

> The Danger of Liposuction

>

> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_113.html

>

> Scripps News Service

>

> By By ELAINE WITT

>

> Friday, February 2, 2001

>

> In 1999, 287,000 Americans underwent liposuction, a

> procedure in which fat cells are broken up, then sucked

> from the body through a vacuum hose.

>

> During the same period, 191,000 women had their breasts

> surgically enlarged and nearly 60,000 had what's known

> as a " tummy tuck. "

>

> Overall, cosmetic surgeries were up 16 percent from 1998.

> Liposuction increased by 32 percent, breast augmentation

> by 51 percent and tummy tucks by 41 percent.

>

> It's a trend that should be ringing alarms, and not just

> because of the creepy cultural emphasis it places on

> bodily perfection.

>

> The cosmetic surgery industry, for a number of troubling

> reasons, is in a class all its own. It's the only area

> of medicine that encourages healthy people to undertake

> major surgery. And it's one of the few areas of medicine

> unaffected by managed care. Doctors in other lines of

> work have to negotiate fees with insurers. But cosmetic

> surgeons set their fees as they see fit, working mainly

> on a cash and credit card basis.

>

> Doctors, not surprisingly, settle into this lucrative

> field like bees on clover. Any doctor can legally

> perform cosmetic surgery, with or without certification

> in an appropriate specialty. And much cosmetic surgery

> takes place in doctor's offices _ away from the

> supervision of hospital peer committees.

>

> The industry is aware of these trends. The American

> Society of Plastic Surgeons is studying the complication

> rates in hospitals as compared to those in free-standing

> clinics. The board encourages patients to check their

> doctors' qualifications. And a separate task force is

> investigating liposuction, which has been blamed for a

> small number of patient deaths.

>

> A week ago, a Birmingham, Ala., woman died two days

> after having liposuction. It has not been determined

> whether the procedure led to her death. The surgery, in

> any case, apparently was performed under good

> circumstances _ by an experienced, board-certified

> plastic surgeon who, according to his staff, does his

> surgeries in hospitals.

>

> Liposuction has been performed in this country since

> 1982, and it actually is safer now than in the past,

> according to Dr. Jack Bruner, a California physician

> investigating liposuction for the American Society of

> Plastic Surgeons. Now, for example, doctors are advised

> not to remove more than five liters of body lipids at

> a time, Bruner said.

>

> But that standard was years in coming. And even under

> the best conditions, liposuction causes bruising and

> swelling that in rare cases can cause a fatal blood

> clot. Some people would have a genetic predisposition

> to such clots if they had any surgical procedure, Bruner

> said. " It's not something you can test for. "

>

> Bruner said he was apprised of last week's death of

> Birmingham resident Wade, 41. " It was a random

> case, " he said. " It could happen to me. "

>

> Patients, of course, are told the risks of any surgery.

> But when you look at the ads for plastic surgery, there's

> no hint of gravity.

>

> " Look As Young As You Feel! " reads the headline on an

> ad for one Birmingham plastic surgeon.

>

> And this industry's track record for self-regulation is

> not encouraging. In the 1990s, it took a federal ban,

> which was followed by a $4 billion class action

> settlement, to get plastic surgeons to quit using

> silicon gel breast implants. Along the way, thousands

> of women had to have their implants removed because they

> were ruptured or defective - a second surgery that in

> many cases was difficult and disfiguring.

>

> It's all legal, and it all revolves around the faith

> patients eagerly put in their doctors.

>

> But it isn't always pretty.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty...

First Thank you for all the information you put out there for us

to read.. Its very Helpful. When I was reading this post about

Liposuction and saw that you had a quote from Jack Bruner that

really caught my eye. Dr. Bruner was the Plastic Surgeon who

implanted me when I was 16 with one Sailine Implant, due to

deformity. He also was the P.S. I had remove the implant. I feel

Dr. Bruner is a very kind Man, and good Doctor with lots of

compassion for his patients. Butttttttt he is a P.S. who is making

tons of money off of implants. He was sympathic with me to have my

implant removed after being diagnosed with M.S. after wearing the

implant for 21 years. He did not disagree with me that the

implants could cause problems. But did not say they do either. He

also told me at the time of explantion, that I would never be happy

with my body unless I Implanted myself again with another implant.

But I told him there was No Way I would do that, that I owed it to

myself to see if my health would improve after explantion. And 6

years later (THANK YOU GOD) I haven't gotton any worse, in fact I

have

improved. Over A year ago I put down my cane, And keep it in my car

for long distance walks. There was only one thing I question about

Dr.

Bruner. At the time of explantion I told him I wanted that Implant

in

my hands when I left his clinic. And just by chance, the Implant was

lost for 5 days. According to Dr. Bruner, one of the nurses didn't

know my implant was suppose to be in my hands at the time of leaving

the hospital, so she gave it to the carrier to go to the Pathology

Dept. However it didnt get there for 5 days later, after

explantation.

Which really had me Angry. When I finally got my implant back in my

hands, it almost looked new except for the yellowish coloring of the

shell itself. But there was no Mold in it, like the one in Glamour

Mag. I do believe Dr. Bruner is a very good P.S, and does do really

good work. And I would recommend him to anyone. Im curious if you

have

talked with him. And what his views are now about Breast Implants?

Thanks for all of your Help Patty. God Bless You All

Sincerely

Debe

> From: ilena rose <ilena@s...>

> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 1:57 AM

> Subject: The Danger of Liposuction, Etc.

>

>

> > The Danger of Liposuction

> >

> > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_113.html

> >

> > Scripps News Service

> >

> > By By ELAINE WITT

> >

> > Friday, February 2, 2001

> >

> > In 1999, 287,000 Americans underwent liposuction, a

> > procedure in which fat cells are broken up, then sucked

> > from the body through a vacuum hose.

> >

> > During the same period, 191,000 women had their breasts

> > surgically enlarged and nearly 60,000 had what's known

> > as a " tummy tuck. "

> >

> > Overall, cosmetic surgeries were up 16 percent from 1998.

> > Liposuction increased by 32 percent, breast augmentation

> > by 51 percent and tummy tucks by 41 percent.

> >

> > It's a trend that should be ringing alarms, and not just

> > because of the creepy cultural emphasis it places on

> > bodily perfection.

> >

> > The cosmetic surgery industry, for a number of troubling

> > reasons, is in a class all its own. It's the only area

> > of medicine that encourages healthy people to undertake

> > major surgery. And it's one of the few areas of medicine

> > unaffected by managed care. Doctors in other lines of

> > work have to negotiate fees with insurers. But cosmetic

> > surgeons set their fees as they see fit, working mainly

> > on a cash and credit card basis.

> >

> > Doctors, not surprisingly, settle into this lucrative

> > field like bees on clover. Any doctor can legally

> > perform cosmetic surgery, with or without certification

> > in an appropriate specialty. And much cosmetic surgery

> > takes place in doctor's offices _ away from the

> > supervision of hospital peer committees.

> >

> > The industry is aware of these trends. The American

> > Society of Plastic Surgeons is studying the complication

> > rates in hospitals as compared to those in free-standing

> > clinics. The board encourages patients to check their

> > doctors' qualifications. And a separate task force is

> > investigating liposuction, which has been blamed for a

> > small number of patient deaths.

> >

> > A week ago, a Birmingham, Ala., woman died two days

> > after having liposuction. It has not been determined

> > whether the procedure led to her death. The surgery, in

> > any case, apparently was performed under good

> > circumstances _ by an experienced, board-certified

> > plastic surgeon who, according to his staff, does his

> > surgeries in hospitals.

> >

> > Liposuction has been performed in this country since

> > 1982, and it actually is safer now than in the past,

> > according to Dr. Jack Bruner, a California physician

> > investigating liposuction for the American Society of

> > Plastic Surgeons. Now, for example, doctors are advised

> > not to remove more than five liters of body lipids at

> > a time, Bruner said.

> >

> > But that standard was years in coming. And even under

> > the best conditions, liposuction causes bruising and

> > swelling that in rare cases can cause a fatal blood

> > clot. Some people would have a genetic predisposition

> > to such clots if they had any surgical procedure, Bruner

> > said. " It's not something you can test for. "

> >

> > Bruner said he was apprised of last week's death of

> > Birmingham resident Wade, 41. " It was a random

> > case, " he said. " It could happen to me. "

> >

> > Patients, of course, are told the risks of any surgery.

> > But when you look at the ads for plastic surgery, there's

> > no hint of gravity.

> >

> > " Look As Young As You Feel! " reads the headline on an

> > ad for one Birmingham plastic surgeon.

> >

> > And this industry's track record for self-regulation is

> > not encouraging. In the 1990s, it took a federal ban,

> > which was followed by a $4 billion class action

> > settlement, to get plastic surgeons to quit using

> > silicon gel breast implants. Along the way, thousands

> > of women had to have their implants removed because they

> > were ruptured or defective - a second surgery that in

> > many cases was difficult and disfiguring.

> >

> > It's all legal, and it all revolves around the faith

> > patients eagerly put in their doctors.

> >

> > But it isn't always pretty.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Debe,

I am so glad to hear of your positive story of healing! No more

cane....that is awesome.

I know of another woman in California who was diagnosed with MS, and her

legs have spasmed so bad that she had been unable to walk for a couple of

years now. She has been healing for a long time, too, after explant, but

she was able to almost stand for the first time in 2 years last month! The

healing is slow, but sure, and each step of progress is something to get

excited about!

As for the article you responded to that Ilena forwarded to the group, I

have not talked to Dr. Bruner, and not sure where he stands on the issue.

It makes me wonder about these doctors who pull a fast one on us with our

implants, and why they think it is necessary to switch them before they give

them back to us? I have heard of that happening so often, and it is just

not right. Either they are covering something up so that we have no legal

case, or they are getting reimbursed from the company for turning in

defective product. (????) It just smells rotten.

Thanks for sharing, Debe, and God bless.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: Debe <ldebe@...>

< >

Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 9:26 AM

Subject: Re: Fw: The Danger of Liposuction, Etc.

> Hi Patty...

> First Thank you for all the information you put out there for us

> to read.. Its very Helpful. When I was reading this post about

> Liposuction and saw that you had a quote from Jack Bruner that

> really caught my eye. Dr. Bruner was the Plastic Surgeon who

> implanted me when I was 16 with one Sailine Implant, due to

> deformity. He also was the P.S. I had remove the implant. I feel

> Dr. Bruner is a very kind Man, and good Doctor with lots of

> compassion for his patients. Butttttttt he is a P.S. who is making

> tons of money off of implants. He was sympathic with me to have my

> implant removed after being diagnosed with M.S. after wearing the

> implant for 21 years. He did not disagree with me that the

> implants could cause problems. But did not say they do either. He

> also told me at the time of explantion, that I would never be happy

> with my body unless I Implanted myself again with another implant.

> But I told him there was No Way I would do that, that I owed it to

> myself to see if my health would improve after explantion. And 6

> years later (THANK YOU GOD) I haven't gotton any worse, in fact I

> have

> improved. Over A year ago I put down my cane, And keep it in my car

> for long distance walks. There was only one thing I question about

> Dr.

> Bruner. At the time of explantion I told him I wanted that Implant

> in

> my hands when I left his clinic. And just by chance, the Implant was

> lost for 5 days. According to Dr. Bruner, one of the nurses didn't

> know my implant was suppose to be in my hands at the time of leaving

> the hospital, so she gave it to the carrier to go to the Pathology

> Dept. However it didnt get there for 5 days later, after

> explantation.

> Which really had me Angry. When I finally got my implant back in my

> hands, it almost looked new except for the yellowish coloring of the

> shell itself. But there was no Mold in it, like the one in Glamour

> Mag. I do believe Dr. Bruner is a very good P.S, and does do really

> good work. And I would recommend him to anyone. Im curious if you

> have

> talked with him. And what his views are now about Breast Implants?

> Thanks for all of your Help Patty. God Bless You All

> Sincerely

> Debe

>

>

>

> > From: ilena rose <ilena@s...>

> > Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 1:57 AM

> > Subject: The Danger of Liposuction, Etc.

> >

> >

> > > The Danger of Liposuction

> > >

> > > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_113.html

> > >

> > > Scripps News Service

> > >

> > > By By ELAINE WITT

> > >

> > > Friday, February 2, 2001

> > >

> > > In 1999, 287,000 Americans underwent liposuction, a

> > > procedure in which fat cells are broken up, then sucked

> > > from the body through a vacuum hose.

> > >

> > > During the same period, 191,000 women had their breasts

> > > surgically enlarged and nearly 60,000 had what's known

> > > as a " tummy tuck. "

> > >

> > > Overall, cosmetic surgeries were up 16 percent from 1998.

> > > Liposuction increased by 32 percent, breast augmentation

> > > by 51 percent and tummy tucks by 41 percent.

> > >

> > > It's a trend that should be ringing alarms, and not just

> > > because of the creepy cultural emphasis it places on

> > > bodily perfection.

> > >

> > > The cosmetic surgery industry, for a number of troubling

> > > reasons, is in a class all its own. It's the only area

> > > of medicine that encourages healthy people to undertake

> > > major surgery. And it's one of the few areas of medicine

> > > unaffected by managed care. Doctors in other lines of

> > > work have to negotiate fees with insurers. But cosmetic

> > > surgeons set their fees as they see fit, working mainly

> > > on a cash and credit card basis.

> > >

> > > Doctors, not surprisingly, settle into this lucrative

> > > field like bees on clover. Any doctor can legally

> > > perform cosmetic surgery, with or without certification

> > > in an appropriate specialty. And much cosmetic surgery

> > > takes place in doctor's offices _ away from the

> > > supervision of hospital peer committees.

> > >

> > > The industry is aware of these trends. The American

> > > Society of Plastic Surgeons is studying the complication

> > > rates in hospitals as compared to those in free-standing

> > > clinics. The board encourages patients to check their

> > > doctors' qualifications. And a separate task force is

> > > investigating liposuction, which has been blamed for a

> > > small number of patient deaths.

> > >

> > > A week ago, a Birmingham, Ala., woman died two days

> > > after having liposuction. It has not been determined

> > > whether the procedure led to her death. The surgery, in

> > > any case, apparently was performed under good

> > > circumstances _ by an experienced, board-certified

> > > plastic surgeon who, according to his staff, does his

> > > surgeries in hospitals.

> > >

> > > Liposuction has been performed in this country since

> > > 1982, and it actually is safer now than in the past,

> > > according to Dr. Jack Bruner, a California physician

> > > investigating liposuction for the American Society of

> > > Plastic Surgeons. Now, for example, doctors are advised

> > > not to remove more than five liters of body lipids at

> > > a time, Bruner said.

> > >

> > > But that standard was years in coming. And even under

> > > the best conditions, liposuction causes bruising and

> > > swelling that in rare cases can cause a fatal blood

> > > clot. Some people would have a genetic predisposition

> > > to such clots if they had any surgical procedure, Bruner

> > > said. " It's not something you can test for. "

> > >

> > > Bruner said he was apprised of last week's death of

> > > Birmingham resident Wade, 41. " It was a random

> > > case, " he said. " It could happen to me. "

> > >

> > > Patients, of course, are told the risks of any surgery.

> > > But when you look at the ads for plastic surgery, there's

> > > no hint of gravity.

> > >

> > > " Look As Young As You Feel! " reads the headline on an

> > > ad for one Birmingham plastic surgeon.

> > >

> > > And this industry's track record for self-regulation is

> > > not encouraging. In the 1990s, it took a federal ban,

> > > which was followed by a $4 billion class action

> > > settlement, to get plastic surgeons to quit using

> > > silicon gel breast implants. Along the way, thousands

> > > of women had to have their implants removed because they

> > > were ruptured or defective - a second surgery that in

> > > many cases was difficult and disfiguring.

> > >

> > > It's all legal, and it all revolves around the faith

> > > patients eagerly put in their doctors.

> > >

> > > But it isn't always pretty.

> > >

> > >

>

>

>