Pre-implantation Mammography-

You may wish to undergo a preoperative mammogram and another one 6 months to one year after implantation to establish a baseline.

Interference with Mammography-

The implant may interfere with finding breast cancer during mammography and also may make it difficult to perform mammography. Therefore, it is essential that you tell your mammography technologist that you have an implant before the procedure. The technologist can use special techniques to minimize the possibility of rupture and to get the best possible views of the breast tissue. Because the breast is squeezed during mammography, it is possible for an implant to rupture during the procedure. More x-ray views are necessary with these special techniques; therefore, women with breast implants will receive more radiation. However, the benefit of the mammogram in finding cancer outweighs the risk of the additional x-rays.

Distinguishing the Implant from Breast Tissue During Breast Self-Examination-

You should perform breast self-examination monthly on your implanted breast. In order to do this effectively, you should ask your surgeon to help you distinguish the implant from your breast tissue. Any new lumps or suspicious lesions (sores) should be evaluated with a biopsy. If a biopsy is performed, care must be taken to avoid puncturing the implant.

Long Term Effects-

The long term safety and effectiveness of breast implants have not been studied; however, Allergan Medical is monitoring the long term (i.e., 10 year) chance of implant rupture, reoperation, implant removal, and capsular contracture (hardening of the tissues around the implant). INAMED Aesthetics is also conducting mechanical testing to assess the long-term likelihood of implant rupture. We will update this brochure with this information and timeframes later.

Capsule Procedures-

You should be aware that closed capsulotomy, the practice of forcible squeezing or pressing on the fibrous capsule around the implant to break the scar capsule is not recommended as this may result in breakage of the implant.