CSA | Patient Focused not Profit Focused

My blog started when I found out my breast implants were subject to a worldwide withdrawal. 

I was shocked to find out my implants had been linked to lymphatic cancer, now called Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). 

Although the FDA and MHRI did have BIA-ALCL resources I couldn’t help wonder if  they were biased. Additionally unless you knew about the withdrawal you wouldn’t know to look for information. As a woman at risk, after conducting my own research I decided I wanted to provide a BIA-ALCL resource that women could trust. 

Shortly after consulting with plastic surgeons, I started my blog covering the key information I felt women who were concerned would want to know. When women started to contact me for advice about finding a plastic surgeon for implant removal or replacement I launched my website Cosmetic Surgery Advancements | CSA. 

As I said in Cosmopolitan, plastic surgeons don’t have a crystal ball and there will always be unknown risks and this was something I accepted prior to having breast implants. However, the lack of reliable resources that report on recalls or withdrawals of implants or medical materials related to cosmetic and plastic surgery is not acceptable. 

My belief is plastic surgery websites have a responsibility to publish information about both the dangers of cosmetic surgery procedures and the benefits. The lack of regulation regarding the type of physician that can provide cosmetic surgery, is representative of the lack of concern around patient safety. Even worse are the websites that promote physicians performing cosmetic surgery who are not plastic surgeons. 

Consequently patients end up in the hands of inexperienced and untrained physicians that advertise themselves as cosmetic surgery providers. It seems clear that this puts their patients  at a significantly increased risk of suffering from life changing complications or fatality.

This is why I started my cosmetic surgery directory with the aim of making it simple and easy to find a specialist plastic surgeon. As an advocate for more plastic surgery regulation, I want to continue to help people make educated decisions about cosmetic surgery procedures, with realistic expectations.

Annabelle Baugh | Founder