Mentor silitex HP - is it best to get these removed as soon as possible?

Hello, thank you for your question. It is understandable to feel anxious after reading concerning information, especially regarding health and safety. Please see the attached video that discusses your question and concerns in detail. Ultimately, trust your instincts and prioritize your well-being. Gather as much information as you can, and take the steps that feel right for you.

The current international guidance at the time of writing would be that the implants that you have do not require removal for prevention of breast implant related anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which is relatively rare. It is certainly a lot less common than breast cancer (risk in the UK of this is 1 in 8 to 1 in 9). The overall risk of BIA-ALCL was thought to be around 1 in 24,000 breast implants, and of all breast implant manufacturers, the risk with Mentor is lower than others. However, if it is creating anxiety for you and having a negative impact on your quality of life, then for peace of mind you could consider having them removed and switching to smooth implants (which come with a slightly different complication / risk profile).

I encourage you to speak with your surgeon about your concerns. You can elect to have the implants removed or exchanged at any time. Your surgeon can review the specifics of the implant that you have as it relates to risk. If you are nervous about having the implants and it is causing you anxiety you may wish to have them exchanged for your own peace of mind.

thanks for your question - this is a really difficult conundrum for you. As a woman in the uk you have approx a 1:8 risk of standard breast cancer whether or not you have breast implants. BIA-ALCL with textured implants is 1:3,000-50,000 depending on which manufacturer - i think Mentor textured implants have lowest reported rates which were calculated at 1:51,000 by researchers in 2021 - Whilst it is important for you to understand this risk from textured implants, it is a risk that is so much smaller than one that you already have. To put this in another context, approx 1700 people die in road accidents annually in uk out of a population of 67 million - therefore your annual risk of dying on the road is approx 1:40,000 so if you us the road for walking, cycling or driving like most of us do, this is more dangerous than having textured mentor breast implants!

The FDA does not recommend having the implants removed with no evidence of any problems. This tumor is rare and is much less rare with Mentor Siltex. You can always get yearly ultrasounds to check your breasts. However, do discuss this with your surgeon. If you want, consider switching to smooth implants.

The official recommendation at this time is for decisions to be made on an individual case basis with your provider.
That said, I generally do not recommend patients travel along distances for elective surgical procedures.
The number of patients who have issues after surgery, might need revision surgery, or that complications actually happen seem to be underappreciated by people considering traveling for surgery.
There is no yes or no answer to your question.
This is something you need to discuss with your provider.
Individuals who believe in breast, implant illness, are far more likely to develop symptoms and believe they have the condition.
Those who don’t believe in this syndrome are far less likely to have symptoms, and are typically content with the outcome of the procedure long-term.
The chance of developing large cell lymphoma is fairly small, but most plastic surgeons in the United States, are typically opting for smooth implants for most cosmetic surgical options.
In the end surgeons are responsible for the outcome of the procedure and patients are responsible for provider selection.
To schedule a second opinion consultation I suggest doing that as an in person consultation with experienced plastic surgeons in your community.
For second opinion consultations patient should come prepared bringing with them a complete set of proper before and after pictures and a copy of their operative report.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD