The SAFETY and science of breast implants and SILICONE!

Posted by admin on Thursday, February 18, 2010

Most women who come to see me in consultation for breast augmentation have one major question:  "Is silicone safe???" 

I spend a great deal of time and effort in my practice educating women about their options for surgery, and when discussing breast augmentation, I emphasize that all implants, both saline- and silicone-filled, are SAFE.



In fact, silicone breast implants are the most extensively studied implantable medical device in the history of medical devices! 

All breast implants have a silicone shell; the fill material is what differs.  For most of my patients, I recommend silicone specifically, because it can have a more natural look and feel. 



The website breastimplantanswers.com is an excellent resource for women to learn all about breast implants.  I send each woman I see in consultation to this site to do some "homework" and to learn more about this medical device.



Here are some excerpts from the site (I encourage you to also visit the website for additional information):

The History and Uses of Silicone

Silicone is a highly versatile substance that has many medical uses. Different types of silicone have been used for decades in a variety of medical devices, such as pacemakers and artificial joints.

The Safety of Silicone and Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are among the most extensively studied FDA-approved medical devices in existence. In the United States alone, Allergan has examined the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants in more than 80,000 women.

Silicone and Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants: The FDA's Evaluation

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved silicone gel-filled breast implants after reviewing a vast amount of scientific data. These data consisted of results from extensive preclinical testing, four years of data on 715 women from Allergan's Core Clinical Study, and a European study that evaluated implant rupture prevalence rates beyond 10 years1. In addition, countless published, peer-reviewed studies and research support the safety of silicone and silicone gel-filled breast implants. The FDA also considered in their decision the opinions of advisory panels made up of outside experts.
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Free bonus gift (value $225) for my patients who choose silicone breast implants!!!

Posted by admin

 I am happy to announce that Allergan, the company that manufactures Natrelle silicone breast implants, is offering a free bonus gift to each of my patients who receive silicone breast implants, effective January 2010!

Call my office and speak to Mary at 415-923-3067 for more information. 

Choose Natrelle® Gel and get your Bonus Gift* worth over $225 Natrelle®

Schedule your appointment now.
Ask your doctor if LATISSE® (bimatoprost opthalmic
solution) 0.03% is right for you. Prescription only.

Get free trials of VIVITÉ® Vibrance Therapy and
LATISSE®

*Offer expires 6/30/10 or while supplies last.
Good for augmentation patients only.
Safety Information Natrelle®
Allergan
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Power Women Magazine's Blogtalk Radio - Dr. Karen Horton as featured guest!

Posted by admin on Thursday, January 28, 2010

I was recently interviewed by Power Women Magazine for a full live hour, discussing the latest in Plastic Surgery for women, both cosmetic and reconstructive.

Click this link to listen to the interview!

Power Women Magazine
Where Power Women can network
Dr. Karen H...
Dr. Karen Horton has invited you to the event 'Dr Karen Horton' on Power Women Magazine!
Log in to listen to my online radio interview tomorrow (Tuesday) - 9 a.m. PST, PowerWomenMagazine.com!

I will be discussing the latest in Plastic Surgery for women.

Karen Horton, MD, MSc, FRCSC

Dr Karen Horton Time: October 27, 2009 from 11am to 12pm
Location: www.blogtalkradio.com/powerwomenmag
Organized By: Dee Jones

Event Description:
Dr Karen Horton will be speaking on women and plastic surgery


See more details and RSVP on Power Women Magazine:
http://powerwomenmagazine.ning.com/events/event/show?id=2871844%3AEvent%3A6521&xgi=0kl7ziWtD2JBXK
About Power Women Magazine
Power Women Magazine is an online publication about women by women for women and issues important to women worldwide.
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Online Plastic Surgery consultations: Convenience or Trouble?

Posted by admin on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A recent New York Times article discussed the potential merits and pitfalls of online consultations for Plastic Surgery procedures

This led me to think about my own practice.  I am currently listed on a number of websites that drive potential patients to my practice, from breast augmentation:


...to liposuction, tummy tucks, and other related sites where people can post questions and hear back from real Plastic Surgeons on their opinion about surgery.

I post my direct email (khorton@womensplasticsurgery.com) on these types of sites, and encourage potential patients to contact me directly with questions or comments. 

In response, I always send them a personal email reply with general information about my practice and advice to make an appointment to SEE ME in person, for a formal consultation, a full history and physical examination, and my surgical opinon about whether they are even a candidate for the procedure they believe they are seeking. 

Any initial questions about procedure cost and scheduling can be answered by my Patient Coordinator, whom contactees are also encouraged to call.

When I meet these patients in person, often the procedure they were seeking (for example, liposuction of the abdomen) may not in fact the appropriate procedure to achieve their aesthetic goals (an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck may be indicated if they have rectus diastasis - separation of the rectus abdominis mucles in the midline from pregnancies).  Only an in-person evaluation can allow me to make this determination.

Some patients seeking Microsurgical breast reconstruction such as the DIEP/SIEA or TUG flap travel far and wide for surgery, and come from another state or even country for their surgery.  My Coordinator in these cases will often ask patients to send confidential photographs of their torso so that I can get a general idea of whether they are even a candidate for a free flap.  From here, we would consider asking them to make a trip to see me in the office for further evaluation. 

However, patients are still instructed that they will need to fly into San Francisco for a formal consultation and the standard 45-90 minute visit with me and the remainder of the office staff to fully learn about the procedure, its risks and benefits, potential complications and expected outcomes of surgery.  They would then plan their procedure and return for surgery in the future.

I feel that giving advice over the phone, over the internet, or via just looking at photographs is not only risky for the doctor or patient, but can provide a false diagnosis or sense of security. 

Medicolegally, potential Plastic Surgery patients seen to be seen and examined, in person, for proper documentation and examination, careful planning for surgery, and the best possible results.  
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