10+ Yr Breast Implants Need to Be Checked but my Doctor is MIA, What Should I Do?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website can assist you with finding a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area.

plasticsurgery.org

Go to "Find a Surgeon" and search.

You can also ask friends and family who they trust.  Word-of-mouth referrals are powerful and usually a testimony to the reputation and skill of the surgeon. Make sure whoever is recommended is board-certified.

Best of Luck.

 

The breast implants do not need to be replaced every 10 years. In my practice I see some patients that were operated by me much longer that 10 years ago, and we leave the implants in. If you are not having any issues with breast discomfort or with the appearance of the breasts, then a routine examination and mammogram is all you need.  Get evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon to make sure all is well. If you are advised to replace the implants, do not be afraid to ask for a specific reason for this recommendation.  Ask your family doctor or your gynecologist for a referral to a reputable surgeon.

Dear Deet78, the best way to find a new local plastic surgeon is to go on the American Board of Plastic Surgery website.  By using this site you are assured that your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery.  Hopefully the new surgeon can ease your concerns.

Good luck!

if you know which company implants you have  you can contact the company.

contact a board certified plastic surgeon and have a consult to determine your

best follow up

 

I'm not sure where the misconception of 'having to change out' breast implants after 10years came from. Bottom line: there is no need to replace them if you are not having any issues with them. The warranty on implants expires after 10yrs, but that's it. The impant itself is safe after 10 years- no studies suggesting the contrary. I hope this helps, Dr. H

I agree it is a good time to think about changing the implants out. If you are not having any problems currently, you do not need to do it right away, but an exam by a plastic surgeon is a good idea. In terms of choosing a surgeon, I have a few recommendations for you. First, choose a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. It's not enough that the doctor is board certified. Check what board did the certifying. You can look up doctors on the Board's website abplsurg.org to see if they are certified. Second- it is a good idea to look up a doctor on the California Medical Board website. Sadly there are people out there pretending to be doctors that are not. An additional place to look is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which has its own criteria to be a member in addition to being board certified. Also, recommendations from your primary care doctor may be a place to start. It's also helpful to look at the before and after photos for each doctor you consider, and make sure you like the after results.

What to expect in a consultation: When I see patients for consultation, I first take a full medical history, do a physical examination, take photographs, and then have patients meet with my coordinator to go over the scheduling process and price estimate. If you have copies of old operative reports or mammograms, that would be useful to take with you, Good luck!

Firstly, if you are not having any sort of issues, then there is nothing that says you have to do anything at all.  It is  a myth that you have to change them every ten years.  Only if there is some sort of issue or you electively want to change them do you need to.  That being said, the easiest way to find a new surgeon is to go to the american society of plastic surgery website ( plasticsurgery.org) and search for a board-certifed plastic surgeon in your area.  It is not uncommon for patients to move, have their surgeons retire, etc, and need to find a new one.  Any information you have pertaining to your previous surgery ( implant info, etc.) is very helpful to bring to the new consultation as well.  I hope this helps.

Hello,

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Hopefully you kept your breast implant data card to let your new doctor know what your implants were exactly. Pick a new board-certified plastic surgeon. Ask your primary care doctor for a referral.

 

Best Regards,

 

John Di Saia MD

 

 

Go onto the website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and follow instructions on its find a doctor link. I also recommend that you contact your state's bureau of medical licensure. When a physician stops practicing, for whatever reason, patients should be notified and given the opportunity to obtain their medical records. For augment surgery, in particular, you would want to know the size, manufacturer and profile of the implants as well as the placement of the implant, above or below the muscle, so that, should surgery be required in the future, your new plastic surgeon would be able to make intelligent recommendations.

Dear Deet78,

Consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. You can locate a plastic surgeon in your area through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Warmest wishes,

Larry Fan, MD