Plastic Surgery News

04/10/2019

In response to recent media coverage regarding breast implant safety, we are reaching out to our breast implant patients to provide you with updated information regarding the most recent developments. We would like to remind you that we offer complimentary follow-up appointments and invite you to schedule a visit if you haven’t seen us in the last 1-2 years. Like any medical device, breast implants are not necessarily lifetime devices. They may require replacement or removal at some point during your lifetime, depending on your age when you had them implanted.

With time, small disruptions can occur in the outer silicone shell of a saline or silicone-filled breast implant. If you have a ruptured saline implant, there will be a noticeable change in the size, feel, or shape of your breast(s). Fortunately, this is not an emergency, but if you notice a change, please call the office during our business hours and we will see you for an evaluation as quickly as possible. If you have a ruptured silicone gel implant, there may be no obvious sign of a shell disruption. Ruptures are usually detected on mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI. If you receive a report that shows a change in your implant, this is also not an emergency. Please have a copy of your imaging report sent to our office (Fax: 615-467-6780, Attn: Nurses) and call our office to schedule a follow-up visit. (Phone: 615-467-6777)

You may have seen stories in the media that there have been reports of a very rare lymphoma (ALCL) occurring in the breasts of women with textured silicone implants. This condition usually presents with a very obvious swelling of one or both breasts. Fortunately, this condition is curable by removal of the connective tissue capsule that forms around the implant. The FDA has been monitoring these occurrences and has issued statements and recommendations. The FDA recommends regular follow ups with your plastic surgeon.

At the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville, we recommend that you call our office if you notice any significant changes in your breasts, such as swelling, significant pain, new asymmetry, or changes in the implants themselves.  The vast majority of the time, these types of issues do not represent anything serious, but any change warrants evaluation.

Your breast health is important. In alignment with the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for mammograms and self-breast exams, we recommend monthly self-breast exams and a yearly physician-administered formal breast exam, with our office or your primary care physician. If you have not been seen by one of our physicians in the last few years, please call our office to schedule a complimentary follow-up visit at 615-467-6777.

Sincerely,