The most important invention in the plastic surgery industry has been breast implants. Breast augmentation has turned into a surgery of purely cosmetic purposes. In 1890, the first surgical breast augmentation took place in China. They first inserted paraffin in breasts, but they also experimented with ivory, glass balls, ground rubber, ox cartilages, and sponges; which for obvious reasons, lead to serious infections, hardening of the breasts and lump formations. In 1982, experts in the area found out that by covering the silicone implant with polyurethane foam, the capsular contractures will completely disappear; but in 1992, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) released a report that showed polyurethane foam can break down into the body and form a carcinogen. By then, more than 100,000 women had gotten this type of breast augmentation.
In 1995, a translucent breast implant which was filled with fat from soybean oil was launched in Europe. About 9,000 women worldwide received this implant but later on, experts discovered that the filler could become toxic in the body as it breaks down. Finally, in 1999 the Institute of Medicine issued a report about silicone breast implants in which they detailed all the side effects these methods had. The consequences saline implants have are similar to the ones of silicone.
As above mentioned, breast implants represent a great risk for the receiver, and this risk increases a lot when the surgeon is not well experienced or negligent. The most common injuries caused by malpractice are: bacterial infections, breast and chest pain, infections due to rupture or deflation, nipple sensation changes and capsular contracture, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and wrongful death. Once a patient decides she has been victim of malpractice, she must set a lawsuit if she wants to obtain compensation.
The steps to follow in breast implant malpractice are the same as in any case of MP: breach of standard of care, causation and damages. Basically, they can be explained as follows: to prove the doctor made a mistake (with expert witnesses), to prove that mistake caused you an injury and to show what kind of damages resulted from those mistakes. If your case is against the company that was in charge of producing the implants, then, a class action must be followed. For more information submit a case today!