The breast impant is arguably the worlds most studied medical device.

Last weekend, I gave a presentation on Breast Implant Revision to members of the Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons (WSPS).  I had been working on this presentation for months and was pleasantly surprised to see how timely this topic is.  Just two days before the WSPS meeting, the FDA came out with their most recent statement on breast implants.  

I have been lecturing on breast implant revision for years because I do a lot of breast implant revision surgery.  About 15 years ago, several Seattle plastic surgeons retired and I started seeing a lot of ladies needing or wanting implant revision.  Now that I have been in practice almost 20 years, I am also seeing my implant patients for revisional surgery.

The FDA report drives home several messages:

• Breast implants are not forever.
• Implant revision, removal or replacement should be expected.
• The longer in the implants are in, the more likely they will need revision,  removal or replacement.
• Long term follow-up in breast implants patients is very difficult.  This is a highly mobile population and implant patients guard their privacy. 

Sooooo – breast augmentation is a great operation but it is by no means a perfect operation.  The FDA considers breast implants a safe and effective devise for breast augmentation.  And despite the problems that can occur with augmentation, most patients are delighted with their results.

Thanks for reading, 

Seattle Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder