I Am About to Get Silicone Breast Implants and I Am Wondering if Patients Actually Comply with the Followup MRIs?

I ask this not only b/c of the cost, but the high odds of getting a false positive. Would it be dangerous to just wait until a symptom arose?, rather than go into a possible corrective surgery based on a false positive? What are the risks of letting a rupture be silent until it manifests into outward apparent symtoms? Do you think many patients even get these follow-up MRIs? Thankyou in advance for any and all responces.

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by Renee in NJ

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Wondering if Patients Actually Comply with the Followup MRIs

Since silicone implants were allowed back for general use, the FDA recommendation has been for MRI at 3 years after surgery, then every two years. The basis for this recommendation was that leaks when they occurred were diagnosed less than one-third of the time by physical exam. (This is unlike saline leaks which are almost always obvious due to loss of volume.) What isn't clear was the harm that might be encountered by not making the diagnosis early. Most surgeons feel that the... more

MRI recommendations by the FDA for Silicone Breast Implant followup

Silicone gel implants were re-released on the market in November of 2006. With this approval came recommendations for Implant MRI's at 3-5 and 7 years post-augmentation. No one knows or has reported on the actual compliance rate of patients but I will be very surprised if it is over 5%. The FDA, implant manufacturers, plastic surgeons and particularly patients need an accurate, safe, cost effective alternative to MRI that are expensive and often not covered by insurance... more

Follow up MRIs after Silicon #breastimplants

You ask a very relevant question. The FDA does recommend to have an MRI 3 years after the placement of silicone implants and then every 2 years after that to evaluate for rupture. It is only a recommendation and most patients do not follow the FDA's recommendation. The FDA also never proved that having leaking silicone in a breast pocket could cause any harm to your body. That is why silicone implants were re-released for cosmetic use. Normally if there is a suspicious finding on mammogram... more

I would say that most do not get routine MRI's after breast augmentation with silicone gel implants.

To answer your question directly, I would say that most do not get routine MRI's. They are expensive and have a false positive rate. You may want to consider saving the money that you would spend on multiple MRI's and use the money when the day comes that one or both of your implants need to be replaced. Discuss all options with your surgeon. Ultimately, your call.

MRI screening after silicone breast augmentation

I do not believe that very many patients comply with the FDA recommendations for MRI screening. Nor do I personally believe that there is a medical risk in foregoing the MRI screening. Every surgeon will have a different spin on this question. Mine is this. I do believe that the MRI screening can be of some benefit. But not necessarily to the individual patient. I think that it is a way that the FDA can gather data about the longevity of the silicone implants. MRI screening is not... more

MRI recommendations with Silicone Implants

The FDA does recommend MRI after 3 years, then every other year. Although I share this recommendation with my patients, most do not follow it. I would recommend that you continue to followup with your plastic surgeon as instructed and not wait until something happens to seek their attention. Great question!! :)) Dr. Gill

Cost effect plan

For new patients, I tell them the FDA recommendation. I also suggest to them a better way to spend their money. At 3 years post op, do NOT get an MRI, but save the $1500 it would cost. Do it again at year 6, 9 and 12. You now have $6,000 and could pay for replacement of your implants if you were worried about leakage. This would start the time clock on the implants over again. I also tell them it is fine to wait 15, 18, or more years if they are not having... more

MRI recommendation by FDA is wrong, in my opinion.

The FDA does not examine any of my patients, and I have yet to operate on a MRI scan. But when a perfectly asymptomatic breast augmentation patient has been "scared" into obtaining an expensive, often-incorrect (up to 21% of the time) "screening" examination that may not be covered by insurance, and leads to unnecessary surgery (and all the attendant--minimal--risks) for "ruptured" implant(s), I have been "forced" on several occasions to perform surgery and prove the implant(s) are... more

MRI study after Silicone Gell Breast Implants and Compliance?

Thank you for the question. The majority of my patients do not get the follow-up MRIs as recommended by the FDA.

MRI after silicone implants

I do not believe that patients are complying with the FDA recommendation because of cost factors and it would not have taken a rocket scientist to know that they would not comply. The FDA created an advisory which they should have known would not be fulfilled in my opinion to give themselves an out in the event that another silicone breast implant media circus arose at a later date. I believe that many of my patients, who are cost conscious, have opted for saline implants instead after... more

MRI after silicone implants

The FDA recommends that an MRI should be performed three years after surgery and every two years after to rule out an occult rupture. I tell this to my patients, but I think the reality is many will not do so because of the inherent cost of the MRI.

Steven Wallach, MD

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Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Do silicone implant patients actually get the MRI they are supposed to get?

This is a great question! The MRI recommendation from the FDA is to get an MRI to detect occult leakages 3 years after initial augmentation and then every 2 years. I tell all of the ladies in my practice considering silicone breast enhancement that this is the FDA recommendation. I list it on my consent forms to make sure they know and the implant companies have a book you should have received which also tells you to get the MRI. The question that you ask is how many... more