European Tradition of Med Spas
September 19th, 2011
European Tradition of Med Spas: a Series Introduction
There is a long history of participation in wellness retreats and spas in Europe. Especially prominent are centers offering thermal baths, hydro-therapy and skin treatments. While hiking in the Alps this summer, my wife, Lindsay and I decided to investigate some of these historical practices and explore what new trends might be developing. Located within the Rhone-Alpes region, there are over a dozen stations thermales or thermal spas, most developed around the 17th Century. Early on, the spa towns attracted the wealthy and later, they were followed by patients afflicted with a wide variety of ailments. Today the hybrid model of medical/wellness spas drives a thriving business.
This special series will take a look at the current trends in Europe and what influences we might expect in the US.
Next: Chamonix- Mont Blanc region
Silicone Breast Implants Ok’d Again
September 6th, 2011
Last month a federal advisory panel has recommended the creation of a nationwide database to follow women who have had silicone-gel breast implants for at least 10 years after they had the surgery. Currently the two companies that manufacture silicone implants in the US, Allergan and Mentor, are already required to follow women who’ve had their implants for FDA-mandated studies. While the FDA would like to track more outcomes in women who have received silicone breast implants, it doesn’t expect more extensive longer-term data to reveal that the devices are unsafe.
According to William Maisel, MD, chief scientist and deputy director for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, “Based on the totality of information on silicone gel breast implants, the FDA continues to believe that the currently approved devices are safe and effective for their intended use.†Data from the FDA report that most of the millions of women worldwide who have breast implants are satisfied with them. I find that patients are generally pleased with breast implant surgery. I always give my patients a choice between saline and silicone gel filled implants.
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