Thank you for your question. Mammograms are important. I advise my patients to wait at least 3 months after breast surgery before getting a follow up mammogram, because a lot of pressure is placed on the breasts during a mammogram and it could be tender. The mammogram technician should be aware of your previous surgery so that slightly different techniques can be used. They usually warn patients that the pressure of a mammogram could potentially rupture an implant. This is extremely rare. If it does happen it usually indicates that the implant was old and getting weak. You should still get your mammograms.
Be sure to let your mammography technician know that you have implants or have had breast surgery. It is very much the same process but they may choose to take more of different views of the breast. Breast implant placement under the muscle does help mammography viewing and reading in comparison to breast implant placement above the muscle. It is so important to get your mammograms, good for you for being diligent!
Thanks for your question. This is a common question and concern of patients. Mammograms can still be performed on patients who have undergone a breast lift and/or augmentation. The radiologist simply uses different views and techniques to adequately image the breast tissue which is done routinely in such cases. Best of luck.
Richard Chaffoo, MD
Triple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
0 Answers
Dr. John Silverton wrote on :
Thank you for your question. Mammograms are important. I advise my patients to wait at least 3 months after breast surgery before getting a follow up mammogram, because a lot of pressure is placed on the breasts during a mammogram and it could be tender. The mammogram technician should be aware of your previous surgery so that slightly different techniques can be used. They usually warn patients that the pressure of a mammogram could potentially rupture an implant. This is extremely rare. If it does happen it usually indicates that the implant was old and getting weak. You should still get your mammograms.
Dr. Scott Miller wrote on :
Be sure to let your mammography technician know that you have implants or have had breast surgery. It is very much the same process but they may choose to take more of different views of the breast. Breast implant placement under the muscle does help mammography viewing and reading in comparison to breast implant placement above the muscle. It is so important to get your mammograms, good for you for being diligent!
Dr. Richard Chaffoo wrote on :
Thanks for your question. This is a common question and concern of patients. Mammograms can still be performed on patients who have undergone a breast lift and/or augmentation. The radiologist simply uses different views and techniques to adequately image the breast tissue which is done routinely in such cases. Best of luck.
Richard Chaffoo, MD
Triple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon