If you have breast implants you can and should continue to have mammograms on a regular basis. However, there are some things you need to know and do to ensure that your screening is safe and effective.
Choosing the right facility and the right technician
Women sometimes have a hard time taking their healthcare into their own hands, feeling that some things are best left to the professionals. This is one of those times when you are going to have to make informed choices and stick to them.
Only go to a certified mammogram center and insist that the technician who performs your mammograms has experience performing mammograms on women who have breast implants. Accept nothing less!
Tell the technician about your implants
You should inform the receptionist who books your appointment about your implants and make sure that you are scheduled to see a properly experienced technician before you go in. Once you get to your appointment, you will probably be asked to fill out forms which will indicate that you have implants.
Don’t rely on any of it! Tell the technician personally immediately before your procedure that you have implants. It is the only way to be sure that he or she actually knows and will perform the procedure safely and correctly.
Compression of your breasts
During the procedure your breasts will be compressed. Too much compression can rupture your implant or the scar around your implant. The only way to avoid this is to make sure that the technician knows you have implants.
Getting good images
Your implants can block the view of some areas of your breast tissue. Multiple views must be taken to get images of these hidden areas. Without the additional view, diseased tissue can go undetected.
Type of implant
Saline implants create less interference with mammograms than silicone. There are many factors which determine what kind of implant will be best for you. Silicone or saline should not be chosen based on mammograms alone.
Placement
Implants placed behind the muscle interfere less than those placed in front of the muscle. Women with very small breasts can sometimes get better mammogram images with implants placed behind the muscle than with no implants, because they push the breast tissue forward.
Like the type of filler you choose, there are many other factors involved in choosing the best implant placement for you.
Implants and breast cancer
Early detection of breast cancer can mean the difference between life and death. Women who have breast implants are more familiar with how their breasts look and feel, and are more likely to perform self exams on a regular basis. Therefore, early detection of breast cancer is more common in women who have implants than those who do not.
If you have implants you do not need to avoid or be afraid of mammograms. Be sure to go to a qualified and experienced professional and you can have safe and effective breast cancer screening.
About the Author:If you have breast implants or are considering breast enlargement surgery, talk to your cosmetic surgeon about mammograms today. He or she may be able to recommend a certified mammogram center in your area, with technicians who have experience performing mammograms on women who have implants.
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