Denmark issues reminder on breast implants
This article was originally published in Clinica
The increase in the number of breast implant operations in Denmark - currently some 2,000 annually - as a result of reconstructive surgery and for cosmetic purposes has prompted the national board of health and welfare, Sundhedsstyrelsen, to issue a warning about the risks involved.
There are certain situations where the insertion of breast implants is not recommended, says the board. These include if: cancer has been diagnosed; an active infection has been detected; a woman has been suffering from an auto-immune disease; or a woman is either pregnant or breast feeding. Many patients are not aware of complications that may occur after an operation, including a loss of sensation, swelling, tissue irritation and bleeding, adds the board.
Furthermore, there is evidence that breast implants can adversely affect mammography. Because X-rays are sometimes unable to penetrate silicone and saline prostheses, there can be problems in identifying a tumour.
There is still a possibility of identifying a tumour if the gland tissue covers the implant, but this is often made more difficult by the possible development of calcium deposits around the prosthesis, says the board. This often leads to unnecessary biopsy, it adds.