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Frequently Asked Questions |
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The FDA requested that the manufacturers of silicone breast implant present data that would clearly show that the implant were safe and effective. The manufacturers failed to fulfill this requirement and the silicone breast prostheses were removed from the market. Currently, silicone breast implants are have limited availablity to women that are undergoing surgery for medical reasons. Women eligible for silicone breast implants must agree to enroll in the Adjunct Study.
Any woman that thinks she may qualify should be evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon who can determine if a special medical condition is present or a revision is needed. If the surgeon deems the woman eligible for silicone implants he will notify the manufacturer and make all necessary arrangements.
Saline-filled implants are available to anyone seeking breast augmentation, reconstruction, or revision.
Implants age over time and may need to be replaced. The implants have the capacity to last for many years, however, one should not expect them to last indefinitely.
Yes, this is after all a part of your medical history.
Yes, and you should be sure to regularly have your breasts examined by a health care provider trained to perform breast examinations. It is especially important that you conduct self-examinations each month to detect any complications before they become life-threatning.
Of course! Women who are within the age group where they have an increased risk getting breast cancer or who engage in high-risk behaviors, such as smoking, are strongly advised to have maamograms at the recommended intervals. Those who have had a double mastectomy should ask their doctor whether or not a mammograms are warranted. Breast implants can actually interfere with the detection of cancer. Mammograms cannot detect leakage or rupture of an implant.
No. There are several groups of researchers that have developed tests to determine if an individual has developed antibodies to silicone but none of these tests are presently approved by the FDA as their validity is questionable.
There have been 118 reports of deaths alleged to have been caused by implants. None of these reports have been confirmed in an autopsy. It is more likely that these women died and just happened to have had breast implants. A few of the reports cited complications during the surgical procedure itself, such as problems with anesthesia during surgery, hemorrhage, and infection as the reason for death.
If you experience a serious problem related to your breast implants you should immediately contact your health provider so they can report the situation to the FDA.
Sensation in the nipple and breast can increase or decrease as a result of surgery, can be permanent or temporary, and effect sexual response or the ability to breast-feed.
Although the implant in most cases is inserted so that the implant and breast is separated by a layer of muscle, there will inevitably be some trauma to the tissue. While some women do report health problems in their breast-fed children, and others experience difficulty breast-feeding, the the majority of women that are interested in breast-feeding do so successfully.
You should first consult your doctor before engaging in any strenous activity after surgery. Many physicians recommend that their patients wait at least three weeks after surgery as the risk of bleeding has passed. Exercise facilitates the accomodation of the pectoralis muscle to the implant more rapidly.
In order to achieve desired results large amounts of fat would have to be transferred. This is a very dangerous proposition. Such an amount of fat can lead to scarring and calcium deposits which can be mistaken for breast cancer on mammograms.
Some "magic" creams, lotions, and herbal supplements are effective. However, they may also adversely affect your hormone imbalance and increase your chances of breast cancer and other cancers.
References:
1. www.middletoncosmetic.com
2. www.webplastics.com
3. www.drgiunta.com
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