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Breast
Enhancement Surgery
Breast enlargement surgery, according to the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), was the fourth most popular invasive
surgical procedure among cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in
2000. In a press release dated July 12, 2001, the ASPS says that
breast augmentation was performed on 212,500 women last year.
Meanwhile, millions of women have been subjected to the ill effects
of these modern day vanity contraptions that were bought in good
faith. Silicone gel implants were banned in 1992 by FDA. If you have
(or had) a ruptured silicone breast implant, you will be denied
Health Insurance Coverage. Saline-filled implants tend to have a
higher rate of leaking and deflation than silicone gel implants,
which means more frequent surgery to replace them. In a study
published in the Lancet medical journal, Dr Lori Brown of the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) says: "There is emerging consensus
that both the incidence and prevalence of breast-implant rupture are
much higher than previously suspected." 21% overall increase in
cancers for women with implants, compared to women of the same age
in the general population. Implant patients were three times as
likely to die from lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia as other
plastic surgery patients.The study is based on medical records and
death certificates of almost 8,000 women with breast implants,
including silicone gel implants and saline implants, and more than
2,000 other plastic surgery patients. ( National Cancer Institute
(NCI), Boston University, Abt Associates, and the Food and Drug
Administration, with Dr. Louise Brinton from NCI as lead author. )
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Breast Implant
Dangers
3% suffer leakage within three years causing a deflated implant
Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. The saline fill is
salt water and will be absorbed by the body without ill effects.
Older implants with silicone gel can leak also. If this occurs, one
of two things may occur. If breakage of the implant shell that has a
contracture scar around it, then it may not feel like anything has
happed. If the shell breaks and there is not a contracture scar,
then leakage into the surrounding tissue results in a sensation that
the implant is deflating. The leaking gel may collect in the breast
and a new scar may form around it. In other cases gel can migrate
through the lymphatic system to another area of the body. Breaks may
require a second operation and replacement of the leaking implant.
If the gel has migrated it may not be possible to remove all of the
silicone gel. This silicone gel is the what some say is related to
the initiation of connective tissue disorders.
For silicone gel and saline-filled implants, some causes of rupture
or deflation include : damage by surgical instruments during
surgery, overfilling or underfilling of the implant with saline
solution (specific only to saline-filled breast implants), capsular
contracture ,closed capsulotomy , stresses such as trauma or intense
physical manipulation ,excessive compression during mammographic
imaging, placement through umbilical incision ,site injury to the
breast, normal aging of the implant ,unknown/unexplained reasons.
FDA completed a retrospective study on rupture of silicone
gel-filled breast implants. This study was performed in Birmingham,
Alabama and included women who had their first breast implant before
1988. Women with silicone gel-filled breast implants had a MRI
examination of their breasts to determine the status of their
current breast implants. The 344 women who received a MRI
examination had a total of 687 implants. Of the 687 implants in the
study, at least two of the three study radiologists agreed that 378
implants were ruptured (55%). This means that 69% of the 344 women
had at least one ruptured breast implant. Of the 344 women, 73 (21%)
had extracapsular silicone gel in one or both breasts. Factors that
were associated with rupture included increasing age of the implant,
the implant manufacturer, and submuscular rather than subglandular
location of the implant.
The most common complication of breast implants is capsular
contracture, a tightening of the scar tissue that the body produces
around the implant as a natural part of healing. Additional surgery
may be required either to remove the scar tissue or to remove—and
perhaps replace—the implant. In a prospective clinical study of
saline-filled breast implants conducted by Mentor, the cumulative,
3-year, by patient rates of a first occurrence of capsular
contracture Grades III and IV were 9% for the 1264 augmentation
patients and 30% for the 416 reconstruction patients. In a
prospective clinical study of saline-filled breast implants
conducted by McGhan, the cumulative, 3-year, by patient rates of a
first occurrence of capsular contracture Grades III and IV were 9%
for the 901 augmentation patients and 25% for the 237 reconstruction
patients.
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Breast Self Exam
Healthy Changes Through Life: Doing a monthly breast self exam is
the best way to stay familiar with the cyclical changes in your
breasts. You will get to know the territory better than your health
care team, and will spot changes easily. Having an annual clinical
exam helps document your breast health, so keep a regular
appointment set up for that! Between puberty and menopause, your
breasts will go through many changes, which are affected by
hormones, diet, and exercise. Most of these changes are natural and
healthy!
Teen Years (Puberty): In the teen years, with the start of your
monthly cycle, your body enters the maturing process, and you gain
curves and may notice skin changes (such as acne) and even hair may
change color or texture. Breast tissue is developing during this
time too, and may be dense and firm to begin with, especially if you
are small-breasted.Family Resemblance: At this stage, it’s not too
early to know your family health history, so ask your female
relatives (mother, aunts, grandmother) if they had any fibrocystic
problems with their breasts, or any regular cysts. If so, it’s
likely that you may experience those too. Not to worry – cysts are
benign – but you want to know where they are, and if they come and
go, so they can be distinguished from other features in your
breasts.'
More Curves and Kids (Childbearing Years): After your body is
prepared for motherhood, if you conceive and bear children, and also
if you breastfeed the children, that will bring on more changes in
your breasts, as well as in the rest of your body. Breasts may
become larger and more tender during pregnancy, and may need more
support. Don’t neglect your BSE during this time, stay familiar with
the changes. Remember that pregnancy and breastfeeding will help
combine to lower your risk of breast cancer.
Maturity (Menopause): Menopause also brings changes in your breasts,
as your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, your breast tissue
may become less firm and may drape differently than during your teen
and child-bearing years. Keep up with your breast self exams in
these years too, so that the normal changes are familiar to you.
Less dense breast tissue will seem to have more lumps and bumps, but
remember that 90% of breast lumps are benign. |
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Estrogen and Your Health
What Is Estrogen?: What is estrogen and how does it affect your
health? If you're interested in lowering your risk of breast
cancer,or if you want to understand how to prevent recurrence after
treatment, it's important to understand the role that estrogen, and
other hormones, play in your health. Get started by reading about
estrogen.
Estrogen Definition and Functions
Estrogen Replacement Therapy or HRT: Low levels of estrogen can be
caused by natural, surgical, or chemical menopause, and by estrogen
suppression medications. Some side effects of low estrogen may
include: hot flashes, headaches, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
Some women may be able to take HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to
help counteract these effects.
Long-term Use of Estrogen is Safe Within Limits
Estrogen and Breast Cancer: Some kinds of breast cancer are fueled
by high amounts of estrogen. That's the reason that estrogen
suppression medications are an important part of treatment that
prevents recurrence. Here is an overview of the main types of breast
cancer: ductal, lobular, inflammatory, and Paget's disease.
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