Nine years ago I got breast implants. It was one of the worst decisions of my life. I truly despise having them in my body and desperately want to have them removed. I cannot locate the plastic surgeon who performed the initial surgery, and my insurance will not cover any portion of the removal procedure. I am in constant discomfort and unable to afford $5,000 for the surgery. I have been told that there was a class-action lawsuit a while back and that there might be a fund that could help pay for the procedure. Can you give me any advice or information?

Jennifer

Insurance contracts routinely exclude coverage for elective procedures, such as "face lifts," "nose jobs" and similar services. Such procedures are not performed in a curative response to a medical condition, and they can often lead to complications. Insurance is meant to cover medically necessary services, and elective plastic or cosmetic surgery falls outside this definition. Therefore, not only does most insurance exclude coverage for breast augmentation, it also excludes coverage for the removal of breast implants.

As you have discovered, removal of breast implants is expensive, and you must bear the cost out of your own pocket. But this may not be a lost cause. You may find a surgeon willing to negotiate a better rate because you are paying with your own funds, and who may be willing to accept payments on a periodic basis. Outpatient surgery may also be an option for you. This does not mean the cost goes away, but under these circumstances, the procedure may be more affordable. This is obviously a very important matter, and you owe it to yourself to explore the options and meet the challenge.

If it is important to you to find your original cosmetic surgeon, you have several resources available to you. First, you can search for the surgeon on the Internet. Several major search engines enable the user to search for a person's address, phone number and e-mail address. Search sites such as MSN, Lycos, Yahoo and Hotbot include a "people search" or "white pages" that may give you the information you need.

Second, the American Medical Association has an excellent online "Doctor Finder" with records on nearly every single physician in the United States. Third, there are several associations that represent plastic and cosmetic surgeons. Those with web sites claim to have surgeon locators. Try The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The American Academy Of Cosmetic Surgeons and The American Association of Plastic Surgeons.

If these options do not give you the information you need, the original physician may be dead or no longer licensed. For more information, you may check with the authority that licenses physicians in the state in which you had your original surgery, and ask for any information they may have. Check with the state's general information number for the exact office you need to contact.

To search for information on a class-action lawsuit related to silicone breast implants, check out the sites for the Coalition of Silicone Survivors and "Breast Implants on Trial" (a PBS special). You may also check with a local cosmetic surgeon or contact the manufacturer of the breast implants.