One of the many reasons The Ultimate Cleavage is such a informative read is the inclusion of experiences from other implanted women.  In order to find other women with breast implants it was necessary for Maxine Heasman to make her story public.  There was no shortage of media interest and Maxine soon found herself in magazines and newspapers and appearing on all sorts of TV shows.   As a result, Maxine was contacted by hundreds of women all over the UK — some eager to share their experiences and others wanting to ask so many different questions.  These experiences make fascinating reading and ensure the reader gains a wide perspective of just what happens before, during and after surgery in both a practical and emotional way.

 

In her role as BIIS Founder and author of The Ultimate Cleavage, Maxine Heasman has played an active and significant role in national and international breast implant affairs.

 

In 1997 the Health Minster requested the UK’s third review of silicone gel breast implants following allegations that some women had become ill.  An Independent Review Group (IRG) was convened and a copy of The Ultimate Cleavage was read and studied by each member of this Group.  The IRG published the results of it’s review in 1998, concluding that silicone implants were not the cause of any known or new disease.  You can read the full report at: www.silicone-review.gov.uk.  The IRG report did highlight the need for more pre-operative information and, as a result, the Department of Health set up the Breast Implant Patient Information Advisory Group (BIPIAG) in 1999. 

 

 

Maxine Heasman was invited to join the BIPIAG — the Group comprised of representatives from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the Centre for Health Information Quality, BUPA.  Also forming part of the group was a breast care nurse specialist, a member of the IRG and representatives from anti-implant support and campaign groups.  Throughout 1999 the BIPIAG met once a month at Department of Health headquarters in Whitehall — their task was to create a comprehensive information booklet, which would be freely available to patients.  There were some pretty heated discussions around the table, and it was quite a while before all parties were in agreement regarding the final contents.  In October 2000, twelve months after the final BIPIAG meeting, the booklet “Breast Implants: Information for women considering breast implants” was first published and distributed.  You can see the latest version at: www.mhra.gov.uk/mhra/breastimplants

 

Throughout 2000 and 2001 Maxine Heasman played an active role in ensuring that all parties involved in the European Petitions Committee had access to unbiased factual data from implanted women during their investigation into the use of silicone implants in cosmetic surgery.  Anti-implant campaigners were presenting inaccurate information to Committee members and were calling for a complete ban on silicone implants in Europe.   The BIIS wrote to all the Euro MP’s and various Committee members involved in the decision making process urging them not to remove freedom of choice but to provide women with adequate pre– and post-operative information to enable them to make an informed choice. 

 

In March 2001 Maxine Heasman was contacted by the House of Commons and requested to provide written and verbal information and evidence to assist in an inquiry being undertaken by the Health Committee into the “provision of information by the Government relating to the safety of breast implants”.  BIIS facts and figures are contained within the final report.  .

 

Breast implants continue to be available for women today for both cosmetic and reconstructive reasons.

 

Maxine Heasman continues to provide information and advice to thousands of women via the BIIS.  In addition to reading her book, The Ultimate Cleavage, you can also contact Maxine on a one-to-one basis by using the BIIS telephone/email helpline.   You can get yearly updates from Maxine by becoming a BIIS Member.