Implants And Risk: What You Need To Know During National Breast Implant Awareness Month

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Did you know that March is Breast Implant Awareness Month? With the number of implant procedures increasing every year around the world, what do you know about breast implant safety? Let us discuss the risks that can be associated with breast implants.

There may be several things that can go wrong with breast implants. For instance, there have been incidents of the silicone gel from silicone implants leaking out and entering the bodies of women. This can be a serious risk, as silicone injections are no longer legal after they were associated with patient deaths. Currently, women who have silicone implants are advised to undergo an MRI every few years to assess for leakage. Due to these risks and other reasons, many women eventually elect to have their implants removed, which can be an extensive and costly procedure. 

Unfortunately, women who opted for textured implants have the additional issue of the difficulty with their removal, due to their adherence to the breast tissue.This adherence has also been associated with infections related to bacteria pockets the adherence allows to form. While smooth saline implants may be the safer option, they are not risk free, as they too, have been linked to bacteria growth.

In addition to implant malfunction, the FDA has confirmed that people with breast implants have a higher risk of developing breast implant associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and can also develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, two years ago, the FDA warned healthcare providers that all breast implants can cause immune system cancer. 

Additionally, the human body naturally attacks any foreign bodies it detects. As a result of this natural immune response, some women have become ill with autoimmune disorders following breast augmentation. There is testing available to assess the risk of a woman’s body rejecting implants. Any woman considering augmentation, should discuss this testing with her physician.

There have not been significant enough studies conducted to render a  verdict on the safety of breast-feeding with implants, which makes it an unknown risk and one many new mothers may not be willing to take with an infant. Further, many specialists recommend that women with silicone implants should not breastfeed, due to the possible correlation with autoimmune disorders in children. Beyond the health risks, many women report difficulty with breast-feeding related to the presence of the implant.

Cosmetic procedures can be a very personal decision. In support of Breast Implant Awareness Month, these risks have been shared to arm women, who are considering breast augmentation, with the knowledge to consider the risks to their health and have informed discussions with their physician. For legal issues associated with medical procedures and breast implants, our office is available to assist. We are your local, experienced, law firm! Do not hesitate to call, chat or click here to contact us today!