Platinum in breast implants poses possible danger
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09:02 AM CST on Wednesday, February 18, 2004
By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA-TV
The Food and Drug Administration is looking into new claims of illnesses caused by breast implants.
Breast implant surgery is the second most popular cosmetic surgery, and millions of women have had
the procedure. Now, some are alleging a metal found in all breast implants is toxic.
In the 1980s, silicone breast implants were blamed for a variety of illnesses. Those claims resulted
in an FDA ban for general use 11 years ago. However, scientific studies since then have cleared
silicone as the culprit.
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Video:Janet St. James reports Marlene Keeling believes, however, it was something else in the
implant that sapped her energy, caused shooting pains in her legs, and affected her memory.
"It released significant amounts of platinum," Keeling said. "My blood, urine, sweat, hair and nails
were all tested and they contained significant amounts of platinum."
Platinum is used to bind the shell of silicone gel and saline implants.
Dr. Ernest Lykissa also uses it in his toxicology lab, where he keeps it in a special sealed
container.
Said Lykissa, "You know why I have it in this container? I wouldn't dare open it unless I have
personal protection."
Lykissa has tested small groups of women for platinum poisoning, including 32 women with ruptured
implants. Of those, almost half had high platinum levels—as much as 60 percent higher than women who
didn't have silicone implants.
"I wouldn't let my dog have these things in him," Lykissa said.
Platinum has been used for years in dentistry and in medical devices, including pacemakers. It can
also be found in pollution. However, researchers doubt normal exposure is great enough to cause the
high platinum levels found in women with ruptured implants.
As president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, UT Southwestern's Dr. Rod Rohrich
acknowledges platinum leaches into surrounding breast tissue, but said the substance has never been
linked with specific illnesses.
"We do advocate further study because we care about our patients," Rohrich said.
For now, the Food and Drug Administration's official stance said platinum "does not pose a risk."
"Certainly, I thought if a doctor is putting them in me, they're safe," said patient Yvonne Perkins.
Perkins doesn't think so anymore. She's been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and has tested
positive for an extremely toxic type of platinum. She wants young women willing to have surgery to
get a better body to see the price they might eventually pay.
Doctors are still allowed to use silicone gel implants on patients who need breast reconstruction.
The FDA recently considered approving silicone implants for general use again, but they haven't yet
given it clearance. Some speculate the agency refused to make silicone available to the general
public until researchers are sure platinum isn't a health risk—and FDA officials continue to
investigate claims of platinum poisoning.
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