You gotta let me know, should I stay or should I go?
That's not just a classic Clash question about relationships, it's the ultimate question of plastic surgery patients when we're talking about breast implants. The truth is, implants may or may not be yours until the end of time, for a number of reasons.
That’s where Dr. Steven Teitelbaum comes in: to let you know when they’re yours to keep… and when following the wrong advice will spell trouble. Read on to find out where the doctor who wrote the chapter on breast implants in one of the top plastic surgery textbooks separates fiction from fact. And if you don't have implants, feel free to share this valuable information with a friend who does or is considering them.
Dr. Teitelbaum has 29 years of follow-up on his own breast augmentation patients and has experience revising thousands of others, going back to the first implants placed in the early 1960s. A top physician and researcher in his field, Dr. T keeps the original records of all of his patients and is keenly interested in how they’ve felt about their breasts over time. He also has a special ultrasound to determine if breast implants are intact or have ruptured.
Whether he did an individual’s surgery one year or 25 years ago, Dr. Teitelbaum is always available to make sure everything is OK and answer questions. He follows his implant patients for life and performs ultrasound assessments of their implants without charge.
Dr. Teitelbaum reviewing the MRI results of some of the thousands of his breast implant patients.
Theres an extensive library of FAQ's on Dr. Teitelbaum's site, and these are the highlights that patients most ask about:
FACT: Have you heard that implants need to be replaced every 10 years? That’s actually just a myth. Nothing happens at 10 years or at any other specific interval; implants don’t have an expiration date. As long as a woman likes the way her breasts look and feel, and as long as her implants are not broken, nothing needs to be done.
FACT: Broken silicone implants are just one of the reasons that patients do a revision. Silicone breast implants should be checked for rupture every couple of years via ultrasound, either at a radiology center or by Dr. Teitelbaum himself with the ultrasound in his office. The good news is that broken implants are actually an uncommon reason for revision; most are done to make a cosmetic improvement before an implant ever breaks. Note that mammograms are not designed to assess implants for breakage; they detect early cancer in breast tissue. Only ultrasounds and MRIs can determine if there is a rupture.
FACT: So why do most people replace their breast implants? The most common reasons are because the individual wants to improve the look or feel: they may want to go up or down in size, they may want more softness, they may feel droopy or empty, the implants may ripple or feel unnatural, or they may no longer want breast implants at all. Sometimes changes occur so gradually that people don’t remember how much softer they used to be or realize how much better their breasts looked in the earlier years following the placement of their breast implants.
FACT: Babies can matter. While some women’s breasts barely change with pregnancies, other women understandably want a breast implant revision because pregnancies have made their breasts droop, harden, or change in size. A revision may be made for any combination of removing scar tissue, changing implant size, making breasts fuller, improving feel, or opting for a breast lift.
FACT: Menopause also matters. Even women who maintain a stable weight through the hormonal changes of menopause frequently find that their weight shifts to the breast and abdominal areas. Some like the change to their breasts, while others say it makes them feel matronly, so they may decide to reduce the size of their implants or even remove them entirely. Other women who experience an increase in the breasts and their waist will have Dr. Teitelbaum remove fat from their stomach and hips and place it in their breasts after removing implants.
FACT: When saline implants break, one breast seems to just disappear over a couple of weeks. It’s that obvious. This is not a medical emergency, but the procedure is usually simpler if the deflated implant is replaced sooner rather than later. Our staff will always make space in the schedule for these patients to get in right away.
FACT: There’s no reason to be scared, even if you find out a silicone implant is broken and leaking. While the recommendation of the FDA, plastic surgeons, and the implant manufacturers is to replace them, even broken silicone implants do not pose an immediate risk to a patient’s health and can be dealt with as the individual's schedule permits. Nonetheless, this is anxiety-provoking and our staff will make sure to get these patients an appointment ASAP.
FACT: Patients who have had textured implants need to be aware of the risk of developing a rare lymphoma. Dr. Teitelbaum has already contacted his patients with these particular implants, and they are all welcome to return and discuss the issues further with him. The important thing for all implant patients to remember is that if they ever notice a change in a breast (an increase in size, hardening, a mass, or anything else), they should call Dr. Teitelbaum’s office for an immediate visit.
FACT: Other breast implants do not increase the chance of developing breast cancer (in fact there is some evidence they may even reduce the risk.) Still, all breast implant patients must continue performing regular self-exams and follow a schedule of yearly mammograms as directed by their primary care physician. Always remind the doctor that you have implants, ask whether they were able to see all of your breast tissue, and whether you need to have extra views.
FACT: Some individuals with no breast implant problems may still decide that they just want to have their implants removed because of health concerns, wanting smaller breasts, or to be all-natural again. Improvements in fat-grafting techniques over recent decades (replacing one’s implants with their own fat) have enabled many individuals to remove their implants yet still look the way they want to look.
FACT: As time marches along, we all develop new aches and pains in our bodies. Some women attribute these symptoms to their implants, yet numerous detailed studies have shown no detectable abnormality in the bloodwork of women with breast implants that would explain these problems. If you feel unwell, don’t assume it’s your implants; instead, it’s important to see your regular doctor to be sure nothing else is going on. If no cause is found, then consult with Dr. Teitelbaum to discuss whether removing your implants might improve your symptoms.
We look forward to answering any of your other questions about breast implants or arranging a visit with Dr. Teitelbaum! You can reach us at 310-315-1121.
