MRIs to check implants

[MelbGal]

Hi all. It’s been a while since I’ve been on, I’ve had my boobs now 4 years! All going great ? I wondered what everyone’s recommendations have been for checking that your implants are ok? ie did your surgeon recommend having an MRI every couple of years or so to check they are ok, not leaking etc? What other advice if any were you given for checking them long term.

Thanks 

[I HaveBoobs]

My PS said that i was able to have a mammogram,  ultrasound or MRI but to be honest i think I'dchoose the other two over a mammogram as dont think I'd feel comfortable having my boobs squished incase of rupture,  i had to have one before i got my boobs done as I'm no spring chicken ? and i didnt have a lot of natural breast tissue to begin with  and it bloody hurt so the mammogram is not my top option.  

[pink butterfly]

I had to have a mammogram (+ ultrasound) last week due to my GP finding a lump in one of my breasts. I have never had a mammogram before and the medical staff could not have been nicer about the situation. They were so compassionate. I did have to sign a paper about agreeing to the very small chance my implants could rupture due to the mammogram. But I have silicone so I wasn't too worried. Plus I have some amazing women around me who needed to have their breasts checked for their lumps and they both had aggressive cancer leading to mastectomies. So I didn't want to muck around with it. RE rupture, if I thought that I would probably go for ultrasound as my first go to.

[chrissy007]

My PS recommended every 2 years having a ultrasound or MRI. I have had a few ultrasounds, one instead of a mammogram and 2 to check in my implants. The last ultrasound I had the doctor at the breast clinic suggested a MRI instead of an ultrasound, it’s really expensive though.

[Moderator]

Ive had an MRI and it was ridicuously expensive (around $600 from memory) and was so boring and uncomfortable. You have to lay face down for about 45 mins.

I certainly would prefer alternatives to routine examinations over the MRI even if it is superior in identifying issues.

[Cupcake85]

My redo surgeon sent me a referral to have an ultrasound done but I've just not had the time or money to go. I've read elsewhere that MRIs can give false positive results for rupture. I did have an ultrasound on both boobs going back a few years as I was getting some weird pain but apart from showing a lump in my breast there was nothing wrong with my implants. I chose to have a biopsy (fine needle aspiration) done on the lump to be safe and luckily the lump was benign. 

[ab1990]

On 5/10/2019 at 5:40 AM, Cupcake85 said:

My redo surgeon sent me a referral to have an ultrasound done but I've just not had the time or money to go. I've read elsewhere that MRIs can give false positive results for rupture. I did have an ultrasound on both boobs going back a few years as I was getting some weird pain but apart from showing a lump in my breast there was nothing wrong with my implants. I chose to have a biopsy (fine needle aspiration) done on the lump to be safe and luckily the lump was benign. 

Do you know if ultrasounds just show ruptures or CC as well?

[Cupcake85]

On 7/29/2019 at 6:07 PM, ab1990 said:

Do you know if ultrasounds just show ruptures or CC as well?

Good question. I’m not 100% sure so don’t want to say the wrong thing. Best to check with your surgeon.