Should I avoid getting breast implants due to my family history of breast cancer?
I am in my 50's and my breasts are "sagging". I do not want the scarring associated with a lift. Is there a problem with getting either a saline or silicone implants with regards to an increased breast cancer risk? Is it better in this case to go under the muscle? My mother developed breast cancer in her 70's. Is that a reason I should not get implants?
Answers (4)
Remember that implants don't lift the breast and they don't cause cancer
To correct your sagging breasts, the best procedures involve lifting the nipple and areola and tightening the lax lower pole tissues. This causes scars but can dramatically improve the shape and youthfulness of the breasts. Mammograms are not affected by this procedure alone.
Implants will not correct sagging, they will just make you bigger. So, if your breasts don't need to be larger, it may be that a lift alone is the best procedure for you. Evaluation by an expert plastic surgeon will help you sort out these issues once you have been examined.
Breast implants don't cause breast cancer
Depending on the amount of "sagging" you have, you may not be a candidate for implant surgery alone. That being said, implants do NOT increase your risk of developing breast cancer. You need to be aware of the fact that implants do cause compression of your breast tissue, which makes the tissue more dense and possibly more difficult to image with mammography. Placing the implants under the muscle does make the breast tissue easier to xray, but also makes it more difficult to correct the sagging. A consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon will help to identify all of your possible options and guide you in your decision making process. Good luck.
Issues with implants and risk of breast cancer
The correction of sagging breasts with implants has little to do with the choice between saline and silicone implants. Howver, the issues with implants and breast cancer has to do with causation and detection.
The causation risks have pretty much been put to rest although there are certain groups who might argue differently. You should speak to a breast cancer specialist, not as regards risks of implants, but your specific increased risk of developing cancer with a first degree relative with post-menopausal cancer.
The main concern with silicone implants has to do with detection and complications from leakage. The softer the implants, the better the mammagram and this would tend to favor a submuscular placement, although a submuscular position generally does not correct mild sagging as well as subglandlular placement so you might be faced with a compromise. This is true even for saline implants. Ultrasound and MRI are also available to assist in screening and monitoring the breast tissue and implants.
Microscopic leakage can cause silicone granulomas that while easily diagnosed by mammogram or MRI might cause considerable concern and on-going expense to detect and monitor. This is not the case with saline implants. Continued vigilence is the order of the day, even in women without a family history of breast cancer. Individualization of the choice you make keeping in mind the various risks and desired goal will allow you to come to a reasonable decision.
Saline or silicone implants do not cause breast cancer
Breast implants have never been shown to have a correlation to an increased incidence risk of breast cancer. Which implant you chose (saline or silicone) with the help of your plastic surgeon is a purely personal choice once you have been properly educated about the differences between them.
Every woman who has a breast augmentation with or without a lift needs to remain as vigilant as other women regards screening for breast cancer (self breast exams and annual screening mammograms following the American Cancer Society guidelines). The more family exposure you have in terms of direct relatives (Sisters, Mother, Aunts, etc.) your risk is elevated. You should enterain having your implants placed partially under the chest muscle to aid the mammographer in being able to view your breast tissue with the mammogram.
If your breasts are sagging then most likely an implant alone will not improve them other than to make the upper part of your breast larger only to leave the lower breast still saggy. It is omportant to visit a board-certified plastic surgeon for their opinion because what you percieve as saggy may be minor enough to not require a lift.
I hope this has been helpful
Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS
Check out more Q+A about Breast implants
Which breast implant placement gives a more natural appearance?
Answered by Kenneth R. Francis, MD, New York City Plastic Surgeon
Read all 15 answers
Breast augmentation doubts - what if I don't like my new breast implants?
Answered by Athleo Louis Cambre, MD, Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon
Read all 13 answers
Breast augmentation for athletic build - above the muscle?
Answered by David Reath, MD, Knoxville Plastic Surgeon
Read all 12 answers- Would Breast Augumentation the second time around be more painful?
Answered by Kenneth R. Francis, MD, New York City Plastic Surgeon
Read all 12 answers
Write a comment