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Information for Performed, Costs, Doctors, Photo
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Mammography
There is a risk that breast implants may
impede breast cancer detection. During
mammography, X-ray, or ultrasound the
implants could hide suspicious tumors or
lesions. Treatment providers must take
special care of breast-implant patients
during breast exams. Additional views are
required, which take additional time for
imaging. When you make a mammography
appointment, tell the receptionist about the
implants so they can schedule the extra
time.
The radiologist needs to use special
imaging: "Eklund displacement views." Eklund
views maximize what is seen of the breast
tissue to better detect tumors or lesions.
Eklund views are done in addition to the
standard views.
Just before the actual mammograms begin,
tell the radiology technician about the breast implants. This
helps
ensure that the technician includes Eklund displacement
views in the examination.
Mammography also compresses the breasts,
which increases the chance of a rupture.
Loss of Sensation
After breast surgery, some implant
patients experience loss of sensation in the
nipple and breast area. Loss of sensation
results from damage to nerve endings in the
breast and nipple. The loss of sensation is
often temporary, but it can be permanent.
The surgical technique can play a role in
this complication. Your surgeon can
determine the most appropriate implant and
surgical technique to minimize loss of
sensation. Read more about the breast
sensitivity side effect.
Leaking or Leaching of Breast Implant
Material
There have been studies of possible
harmful effects of breast implant materials
leaking or leaching into the surrounding
breast tissue. The studies concluded that
there is insufficient evidence of harmful
effects for implant materials that are
approved by the FDA. These FDA-approved
materials are also widely used in other
types of medical implants, including
pacemakers, intraocular lenses, artificial
joints, and other medical devices.
Rupture
No implant will last forever. Implants
can break or rupture, causing deflation.
Many ruptures result from the natural aging
of the implant, excessive compression to the
breast, or trauma to the breast. The most
noticeable effect is that the size and shape
of the breast change. Depending on the size
of the rupture, changes in breast appearance
can occur over a few days or over a very
long period of time.
Mammography sometimes compresses the breast
implant enough to cause rupture. According
to the FDA and medical literature, there
were reports of fifty-eight breast implant
ruptures during mammography from 1992 to
2002. Technicians must take special care to
ensure that excessive pressure is not placed
on the breasts.
Typically, surgery is needed to remove a
deflated breast implant. Most women decide
to have the implants replaced. For those
women who do not have their implants
replaced, dimpling or puckering of the
breast may appear following removal.
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