A ^Retired Plastic Surgeon's Notebook

Do you really need a breast MRI every two years?

Breast MRI imaging

Seattle Plastic Surgeon discusses the FDA’s recommendations for MRI following breast impant surgery. 

About 4 years ago, breast implants were once again on the market after extensive review by the FDA. One of the stipulations was that women would need to get an MRI three years after implantation and every two years thereafter. These MRI exams are intended to fine “silent ruptures” meaning a breast implant that looks and feels fine but has in fact ruptured. I often get this question: “Do I really need to have all those MRI’s if I have silicone gel implants?”

Answer: “No one is going to show up at your door and haul you off to the MRI suite. Undergoing the MRI recommendations is a decision every patient will have to make for herself.”

Here is an article written by Dr. Thomas Wiender, a Houston plastic surgeon to help each patient make her decision. I cannot improve on his writing so this is an exact copy of his article:

MRI Recommendation After Silicone Gel Breast Augmentation

  1. The FDA has recommended an MRI of the breasts at three years post-op and every two years after. You are currently at one of these postoperative time frames.
  2. Most silicone gel implant ruptures are silent. In other words, there are no symptoms.
  3. MRI is not 100 percent accurate. Some intact implants will appear ruptured, and some ruptured implants will appear intact. This is not a fault of the radiologist or the MRI – this is the limitation of the technology.
  4. Over many years of research, there is no indication that a ruptured implant will cause any disease.
  5. If an MRI indicates a ruptured implant but at surgery it is found to be intact, for Allergan implants, the manufacturer’s full warranty still applies. For Mentor implants, the manufacturer will provide the implant replacement but no financial assistance.
  6. You must understand that because of the limits of MRI technology, you may have surgery for an implant that is found to be intact, but you will still have undergone the possible risks and complications of surgery.
  7. In most countries outside of the United States, the equivalent of the FDA does not recommend routine follow-up MRI.
  8. The cost of the MRI is your responsibility. You insurance company and the implant manufacturer will not pay for this.*

The decision to proceed with a postoperative MRI must be made by you, the patient, based on the above information and the information provided to you prior to surgery in the manufacturer/FDA brochure.

* First Hill Imaging in Seattle charges $1,955 for a breast MRI to look for implant rupture. If the patient pays cash up front, the fee is $1,271. I obtained this information in early 2010. Their fees are subject to change.

Thanks for reading!  Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder

 

Category: Breast Implants, Now That's a Little Weird, Plastic Surgery, Postoperative Care | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

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