Breast Implants and Breast Cancer Detection
The cosmetic surgeons at the San Diego Cosmetic Surgery Practice have been serving San Diego (and surrounding areas) for just about three decades now. Our surgeons and surgical team perform cosmetic surgeries of the breast, facelifts, tummy tucks and liposuction, and also perform various skin care techniques such as BOTOX®, Restylane®, and Juvéderm™ injectable fillers.
Regardless of what surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedure(s) you choose to undergo, there are risks involved along with the numerous benefits and often long-lasting results. At your initial consultation, questions will be answered, concerns will be addressed, and, hopefully, fears will be allayed.
What about my mammogram?
One of the most common questions we hear from our patients is “Will my breast implants affect how well mammograms are able to detect breast?” Not only is that a common question, it's a great question.
Breast implants, may, indeed decrease the ability of a mammogram to detect breast cancer because an implant can hide the image of a tumor (even a large-sized one). This is definitely a cause for concern for those patients who are at a higher risk of breast cancer due to family history of the disease and other high risk factors.
Mammograms, however, are still thought of as an effective tool to detect breast cancer in women with implants, but for an added safety factor, additional x-rays called “implant displacement views” are used to examine the breast more thoroughly following breast augmentation.
Breast implants may make the images of the x-rays more difficult to read, but many radiologists have a great deal of experience reading views of women with implants. Here are some helpful guidelines to follow when having your yearly mammogram:
- Use a facility experienced in taking views of women with implants
- Inform the technician that you have implants
- Request implant displacement views
If you are considering breast implants but are worried about mammograms not detecting cancerous tumors, then you should speak to an experienced, honest, and compassionate plastic surgeon.
If you live in La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, or the San Diego area of California, please contact California cosmetic surgeons, Drs. Wendell and John Smoot at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in La Jolla, CA today.
Wendell Smoot, M.D.
John Smoot, M.D.
Reza Sadrian, M.D.
Carol Hollan, M.D.
9850 Genesee Ave. #300, #380
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone No: (858) 587-9850
Fax: (858) 622-2066
If you live near La Jolla or elsewhere in San Diego and would like to learn more about abdominoplasty or liposuction, contact our practice today.
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