ABSTRACT
Our concept of what is historical or obsolete can change rapidly. In part, this reflects the emergence of new and compelling clinical or economic evidence ( 1 , 2 ), but there is no doubt that fashion also plays its part. Surgeons are easily seduced by new technology and a woman’s perception of whether a procedure is newer or older affects the choices she makes (3) . The regulation of new techniques, in most countries, is almost absent and so the commercial pressure on manufacturers to exploit the market is irresistible. Innovative techniques which facilitate rapid turnover and minimal hospital time are embraced by healthcare providers long before anything is known about the long term outcomes or risks.
