GLOBE & MAIL: Implant contest a bust

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Implant contest a bust

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Updated at 3:24 PM EDT

Canadian Press

Vancouver — Doctors are being warned by the B.C. College of

Physicians not to perform breast implant surgery on women who win

the saline pouches in nightclub contests.

Penticton's Element Nightclub is going ahead with its Sextreme

Makeover giveaway this Saturday.

Dr. Seland said any doctor who gives the winner implants will

face penalties designed to stop such competitions.

" They will certainly be looked at askance by the college. In cases

where we can prove it was done, we would call the member to explain

their actions.

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" We don't want a woman's judgment to be coloured or clouded by other

factors, such as free and easy access. That clouds the consent

process and people tend not to pay attention to the cons. "

The college said it has had success with its campaign against such

contests. One surgical centre offering a chance to win a cosmetic

makeover declined to do the operations last year after Dr. Seland

issued warnings in the media, saying the college deemed it to be in

bad taste.

The rules are discriminatory, said Florio Vassilakakis, manager of

the Element.

" What about the woman who already wanted to have implants and

couldn't afford them. Just because they come into a windfall of

money for the procedure they've always wanted, shouldn't mean they

can't get it done.

" For some women, maybe it didn't cross their mind because they had

no money. A lot of people want them. I know a dozen women who are

coming to be contestants on Saturday. They've always wanted them and

now have opportunity to win. "

The Penticton and Area Women's Centre say it's a woman's right to

choose what she wants to do with her body. But it wants to make sure

contestants are making informed consent and have considered all the

health risks associated with breast implants.

Mr. Vassilakakis said that is something the winner can discuss with

a doctor of her choice. He said the club will pay a minimum of

$3,000 directly to the doctor to perform the surgery when the woman

is ready.

Breast implant surgery carries the same operative risks associated

with many surgical interventions to implant a medical device. Health

Canada says these risks include infection, hematoma, delayed wound

healing and changes in sensation.

Studies conducted by Health Canada and other agencies are

continuing. At this point, it says there is no evidence for an

association with either breast cancer or any other malignancy.