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Considerations Prior to Undergoing Elective Breast Implant Surgery in Beverly Hills

Posted On: April 01, 2009 Author: The Office of Dr. Stuart Linder Posted In: Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants

Whenever patients consider having elective surgery, it is important that he or she make certain that the operation is truly the best procedure and will have long-lasting positive effects with minimal risks and complications.

The first consideration prior to undergoing Beverly Hills breast augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty procedure in any city, includes family history of breast cancer. Patients with a strong family history of diathesis of breast cancer need to consider breast enhancement surgeries.

One thing we know for sure is that silicone or saline implants do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However, silicone implants placed above the muscle may make it more difficult to detect a tumor or cancer in a patient with a strong family history and they increase risks of missing one. Therefore, if a patient is undergoing breast augmentation with a very strong familial history of breast cancer, we usually place saline implants subpectorally and the patients, if they decide to have silicone, should certainly have MRI exams every two years in order to detect loss of integrity of the shell of the bag as well as the increased magnification of microcalcifications or breast cancers.

Number two is realistic expectations. Patients who expect to have breasts lifted that have severe sagginess or ptosis with an implant alone are going to be very unhappy with the final results. We see patients like this who undergo breast revision surgery all the time. It is absolutely vital that patients understand that realistic expectations mean that if the patient needs a breast lift that they should have that formal mastopexy and that an anchor scar may be required. They must realistic as to scarring and the unpredictable nature of scars. Implants alone cannot lift breasts that are saggy, either grade 2 or grade 3 ptosis, where the nipple areolar complex is greater than 2 to 3 cm below the inframammary fold. This requires the correct surgery, which is a formal mastopexy.

Number three is fibrocystic or fibro adenomatous breasts, breasts that are filled with adenomas or fibrocysts, may make it more difficult to detect tumors with implants as well. As a result, these patients should always have preoperative mammograms and ultrasound and the surveillance of their breasts should be done annually.