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One of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed each year is the augmentation of the breast. The Cleveland Clinic reports that more than 300,000 breast augmentation procedures are performed annually in the United States. That is not a number to sneeze at.
Most procedures are done to enlarge the breast. Others are done as reconstructive surgeries after the loss of the breast from injury or breast cancer. Still, other surgeries may be performed to correct congenital malformations.
People seek this surgery for a variety of reasons. Some undergo the procedure to feel more confident, others to look better in their clothes, or just to put cancer behind them.
Breast implants can be filled with saline or silicone gel. Both are considered medical devices.
The silicone device may be filled after insertion, making the incision smaller. Both silicone and saline devices risk rupture, but with modern silicone, there may be less risk than with a saline device.
The average lifespan is 15 to 20 years. It is recommended that maintenance exams be done to detect any rupture. With the saline, a rupture will be readily noticed due to the loss of volume and shape. Silent leaks can occur with silicone devices. Here, the device will still maintain the breast’s shape, feel, and size. Rupture rates begin to increase around six to eight years after implantation. A review of these procedures noted that approximately 15 percent of the implants rupture by the 10-year mark.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women in this country. More than 32 million women have cardiovascular disease. Studies show that one in five women has cardiovascular disease.
Most people are familiar with echo technology. Women undergo it to see how a baby is progressing during pregnancy. An echocardiogram is a non-invasive method of investigating heart disease.
When women with breast implants have had these tests, there was a significant increase in the number of positive results for cardiovascular disease as compared to women who did not have implants present.
Upon further investigation, breast implants were found to interfere with the accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular disease when echocardiography was used as a diagnostic tool. Such interference in echocardiography also resulted in women with breast implants having an increased number of cardiac catheterizations with negative results. Women who have breast implants should be aware that the interpretation of the echocardiogram testing may be affected, and thus, women may subsequently be subjected to more invasive cardiac procedures.
Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The show is replayed on Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.
