Effect of Breast Implants on Mammogram Screening

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 23, 2012 -- After breast augmentation, you should still receive mammograms if you are age 40 or above, at intervals recommended by your doctor. Mammograms screen for signs of cancer in your breast tissue and early detection is just as important when you have implants.
Breast implants will require your mammographer to take some extra steps to account for the presence of the implant. Many mammographers have experience doing this, and you simply need to let them know you have breast implants.
Breast Implants and Mammograms

A common concern of breast augmentation patients is the effect that implants will have on their breast health. Aside from the risks of complication, there is no evidence indicating breast implants increase your risks for diseases like breast cancer; however, breast implants do affect the results of a mammogram in the following ways:
• With breast implants, a certain portion of breast tissue is obscured. Your implant will appear as a white blob on the image, blocking the view of the tissue underneath.
• Breast implants can compress and change the shape of surrounding tissue so that calcifications and masses are hidden from view.
• Calcifications can be caused by scarring from breast augmentation. These harmless calcifications can look like cancer to the person viewing the mammogram.

• Possibility of rupture. In rare cases, the compression from mammograms has caused breast implants to rupture.
These are the ways that implants will influence the results of your mammogram. Mammograms are still valuable even with these obstacles.
You can address these issues by choosing mammographer who has experience with breast implants. These mammographers will know how to position the breast to reduce the effect of the implant. They may also take more photos of your breasts than they do of breasts without implants.
What is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray of your breast. Typically, two x-ray images are taken, but if you have breast implants, the mammographer may take four pictures.
Mammograms screen for early signs of cancer, before the patient experiences any outward signs or symptoms. The mammogram should show any lumps or calcifications that cannot be felt by your or your doctor.
Mammograms are beneficial in so far as they detect cancer early. They do not reduce your risk of cancer. Treating breast cancer in its early stages has the greatest potential for success.
Consult your doctor to find out if you should be receiving regular mammograms.

To learn more about breast enlargement in Indiana, please visit the website of experienced plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph J. Fata at Renaissance Plastic Surgery.

http://www.breastsurgeryindianapolis.com

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