Susan Kolb (born November 26, 1954) is a medical doctor in Atlanta, Georgia, and the author of The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing.Kolb, Susan (2010)The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing Savage, MN: Lone Oak Publishing. Her area of specialization is plastic and reconstructive surgery. Kolb has been an active voice in the debate about the safety of breast implant devices since 1996.Shanklin, D. R., "Foreword." The Naked Truth about Breast Implants.p. ii-v She has treated over 2,000 women suffering from breast implant disease and related systemic immune disorders.Kolb, Susan (2010, Feb. 7). (video) "Spiritual Protection through Intuitive Guidance." WGBH Educational Foundation, Public Broadcasting Association. Retrieved from
Biography
Susan Kolb was born on November 26, 1954, in Havre de Grace, Maryland to her parents, Doris and Gene Kolb. She joined the U.S Air ForceThe Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.16 and deployed to Wilford Hall Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas. She completed a three-year course of general surgery, followed by a plastic surgery residency.The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.16 She served as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Wright Patterson Air Force Base from 1984-88. She established a craniofacial board that helped manage children with facial deformities. She helped plan the surgical hospitals that would be later used in Desert Storm, especially as they pertained to burn care.The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.19-20
She left the Air Force in 1988 and moved to Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.20 and joined a private medical practice. In 1990, she left her medical practice for six months to study spiritual medicine.The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.20 In 1995, she established Plastikos Surgery Center, where she used holistic treatment methods.The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.20 In 1998, she founded Millennium Healthcare to address a broader range of medical conditions.The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.21 In 1999, she established Avatar Cancer Center to treat cancer and serious viral illnesses.The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing, p.22
Breast implant controversy
In 1996, Kolb wrote "Doctor, Are You Listening?", an article outlining the symptoms of silicone implant disease.Kolb, Susan (1996). "Doctor, Are You Listening? The Silicone Catastrophe." Human Adjuvant Disease Corp. Retrieved from The article was published on various Internet sites, and her practice became known to women seeking treatment for silicone-related conditions. Many women complained that their health concerns were often dismissed or denied by the other doctors. In 2010, she documented her treatment of women with breast implant disease in her book The Naked Truth about Implants: From Harm to Healing.Kolb, Susan (2010).The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing The book includes a detailed history of the implant controversy and a review of the major research into complications of breast implants. Dr. Douglas Shanklin, Emeritus Professor of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, who along with Dr. David L. Smalley, published most of the pertinent research in silicone biochemistry,See: Shanklin, Douglas R., and David L. Smalley (1995). "Quantitative Aspects of Cellular Responses to Silicone." International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 4, 99-111.See: Shanklin, Douglas. R., and D. L. Smalley (1998). "The Immunopathology of Siliconosis: History, Clinical Presentation, and Relation to Silicosis and the Chemistry of Silicon and Silicone." Immunologic Research, 18, 125-73.See:Shanklin, Douglas. R., and D. L. Smalley (2002). "Pathogenic and Diagnostic Aspects of Siliconosis." Reviews on Environmental Health, 17, 85-105. wrote the foreword. The book outlines Kolb's treatment protocols and includes stories contributed by seven of her patients, as well as her own.
Kolb has been interviewed about her experience treating breast implant problems including chemical and biotoxicity on the Today Show with Katie Couric, Holistic Health Show with Dr. Carl Helvie,Holistic Health Show with Dr. Carl Helvie (2011, May 22). (Interview). "Recognizing and Resolving Breast Implant Problems." Retrieved from http://www.holistichealthshow.com/wordpress/tag/dr-susan-kolb/ and Inside Cosmetic Surgery Today with Barry Lycka.Inside Cosmetic Surgery Today with Dr. Barry Lycka (2011). "Can Breast Implants Be Toxic? Interview with Dr. Susan Kolb." http://webtalkradio.net/2011/10/04/inside-cosmetic-surgery-today-%E2%80%93-can-breast-implants-be-toxic/ She has been interviewed for articles about breast implants in Glamour Magazine,Cool, Lisa Collier (2000, November). "Could Breast Implants Make You Sick?" Glamour Magazine, 247-96. People Magazine,Jerome, Richard (2003, October 20). "Silicone's Second Act." People Magazine. ( and in Vanity Insanity, a Canadian television documentaryBortolin, Ted, and Barry Gray (2006). "Vanity Insanity-Season 1; Episode 3." Vanity Insanity. Global TV. Burnaby, BC, Canada. She also appears as a medical expert on three episodes of Animal Planet's Monsters Inside Me; in all three of her appearances, she treats a woman whose breast implants are contaminated with aspergillus fungi.
Integrative medicine
She has lectured and published articles on other topics, including 21st century medicine,Kolb, Susan (2000, November). "Twenty-First Century Healthcare: The Integrated Medical Center." American Holistic Health Association (ahha.org). spiritual medicine,Kolb, Susan (2003, Spring). "Spiritual Medicine." American Holistic Medical Association Newsletter environmental toxicityHerr, Eva (2011, Jan/Feb). "What You Don't Know about What You Put in Your Body." Kinetics Magazine. http://www.kineticsmag.com/issue/2011JanFeb/pg14.php and the benefits of integrating science and spirituality in the practice of medical healing.Kolb, Susan (1998, Fall) "Merging Traditional and Alternative Medicine." Holistic Medicine, Journal of the American Holistic Medical Association. Kolb is also an author of an anthologyMarohn, Stephanie (2010). Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change. Fulton, CA: Elite Books. and a chapter on energy management.Church, Dawson and Stephanie Marohn (2011). Optimism! Cultivating the Magic Quality that Can Extend Your Lifespan, Boost Your Energy, and Make You Happy Now. Fulton, CA: Elite Books. Kolb has hosted the monthly Atlanta Community Group for Noetic Science since 1996.
Weekly radio show
Since 1998, Kolb has hosted a weekly radio show, The Temple of Health,Plastikos. "Radio Show." Retrieved from on BBS Radio. Kolb introduces a variety of medical topics related to traditional and holistic medicine, scientific breakthroughs, and various medical disorders. Her guests have included Dr. Bernie Siegel, Greg Braden, Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Amit Goswami.
Publications
The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to HealingKolb, Susan (2010)The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing Savage, MN: Lone Oak Publishing. (2010) "The Spiritual Healer and Synthesis Medicine," in Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a ChangeMarohn, Stephanie (2010). Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change. Fulton, CA: Elite Books. by Stephanie Marohn. "Energy Management: A Blueprint for Optimism," in Optimism! Cultivating the Magic Quality That Can Extend Your Lifespan, Boost Your Energy and Make You Happy NowChurch, Dawson and Stephanie Marohn (2011). Optimism! Cultivating the Magic Quality that Can Extend Your Lifespan, Boost Your Energy, and Make You Happy Now. Fulton, CA: Elite Books. by Dawson Church and Stephanie Marohn. "Silicone Immune Treatment Protocol"Kolb, Susan (2007). "Silicone Immune Treatment Protocol." Plastikos. retrieved from //plastikos.com/protocol_silicone_immune_treatment.htm "Doctor, Are You Listening? Kolb, Susan (1996). "Doctor, Are You Listening? The Silicone Catastrophe." Human Adjuvant Disease Corp. Retrieved from "Merging Traditional and Alternative Medicine."Kolb, Susan (2003, Spring). "Spiritual Medicine." American Holistic Medical Association Newsletter. Holistic MedicineKolb, Susan (1998, Fall). "Holistic Medicine." Journal of the American Holistic Medical Association. "Integrative Team Approach To Breast Carcinoma."Anderson, Wesley, Mitchell Ghen, Sandi Goldring, Li Hua, Susan Kolb, Richard Leff, and Cliff Steagall (1999, July/August). "Integrative Team Approach To Breast Carcinoma." International Journal of Integrative Medicine, 1 (4). "Twenty-First Century Healthcare: The Integrated Medical Center."Kolb, Susan (2000, November). "Twenty-First Century Healthcare: The Integrated Medical Center." American Holistic Health Association (ahha.org). "Spiritual Medicine."Kolb, Susan (2003, Spring). "Spiritual Medicine." American Holistic Medical Association Newsletter. Contributions in Plastic Surgery Tales: A Look behind the Face of the Specialty (2004), by Robert Cooper.Cooper, Robert N., (2004). Plastic Surgery Tales: A Look behind the Face of the Specialty. Stuart, FL: W.I.T. Book Publisher, Inc. "Life After Breast Implants" Explant Info: Lynne Hayes (2012) Kolb contributed a condensed version of her story ― The Naked Truth About Breast Implants to "Life After Breast Implants"
Criticism
Kolb's position on breast implant disease and the severity of complications arising from breast implant disease is controversial within the medical establishment. While earlier research studies suggested that certain autoimmune conditions may be related to breast implants, later research resulted in no conclusive epidemiological connection. Many plastic surgeons do not believe that these conditions exist and their position is supported by the American Association of Plastic Surgeons and the United States Food and Drug Administration. After removing silicone breast implants from the market (except in restricted circumstances) in 1992, the FDA re-approved them for consumer sales in 2006 as the result of later research. Kolb has questioned the wisdom of this move and has suggested that corporate interests have taken precedence over public health. She asserts that more recent research studies are flawed for several reasons: the elevation of epidemiological evidence over other traditional methods of diagnosis, such as clinical observation and pathology;See: Egilman, D. (1992). "Breast implants and disease." Wayback Internet Archives. https://web.archive.org/web/20011204090318/http://www.physics.odu.edu/~weinstei/srhr/Egilman.htm breast implant manufacturers and plastic surgeons played a major role in designing and conducting the research; and the studies were conducted over a three to five-year period.Mentor Corporation. Physician. "MemoryGel Breast Implants Product Insert Data Sheet (2010, August). p. 29. Retrieved from http://www.mentorwwllc.com/global-us/SafetyInformation.aspxNatrelle | Breast Implants."Directions for Use: Natrelle Silicone-Filled Breast Implants (July 2008). Allergan. Retrieved from http://www.natrelle.ca/landing_pdf/final/11174%20DFU%20English_June302008.pdf Kolb associates the onset of symptoms of breast implant disease with the breakdown of the implants' elastomer shell which contains the silicone gel, which typically occurs between eight and twelve years after implantation.
Oxygen True Crime has investigated Dr. Kolb.
References