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Mentor Receives European Approval for New Silicone Gel Breast Implant

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 2004--

Mentor Corporation (NYSE:MNT), a leading supplier of medical products in the United States and internationally, today announced that it had been notified that the Company's low height, Contour Profile(R) Moderate Plus Memory(TM) Gel breast implant had received European Union class III CE Mark approval.

This important line extension further extends Mentor's Elite(TM) silicone gel product offering in Europe where the Company offers both round and shaped breast implants filled with Memory(TM) Gel as well as saline filled breast implants, the Becker implants for single-stage breast reconstruction and a range of innovative tissue expander products.

"Surgeons and patients had requested that we introduce this new anatomically shaped, low height breast implant with higher projection," commented Joshua Levine, President and Chief Operating Officer. "We will continue to leverage our leadership position around the world by providing to the market smart and effective solutions that add value for our customers and the patients they serve."

About Memory Gel

Mentor's advanced Memory(TM) Gel is a proprietary cohesive silicone gel formulation used to fill all of Mentor's Elite(TM) silicone gel-filled breast implants around the world. By varying the components of the gel, Mentor is able to produce a wide selection of products ranging from a very soft to a very firm consistency.

About Contour Profile Gel Breast Implants

Mentor's Contour Profile(R) family of products are shaped to imitate the contour of the body and provide shape retention with a pleasing level of firmness for optimal aesthetic results. These innovative products provide plastic surgeons with a smart and simple solution to selecting the optimal size and shape of implant for patients.

About Mentor Corporation

Mentor Corporation is a leading medical device company that manufactures, develops and markets specialized medical products for the urology and aesthetic surgery markets around the world. The Company's web site is www.mentorcorp.com.

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