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From: jay@cso.UUCP (Jay D'Lugin)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.med
Subject: Re: Breast Implants
Message-ID: <146@cso.UUCP>
Date: 26 Sep 89 04:22:06 GMT
References: <3499.251b8a3e@zeus.unl.edu>
Reply-To: jay@cso.UUCP (Jay D'Lugin)
Organization: The Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Lines: 21

In article <3499.251b8a3e@zeus.unl.edu> steimle@zeus.unl.edu writes:
> Anyway, a close friend
>of mine is considering getting implants and cosmetic surgery, and I'd like
>to know of any complications, regrets, health problems, etc. that are
>associated with it.  It seems that she is trying to solve a sexuality
>problem in an extreme way...

As a radiologist-to-be, I'm especially concerned about early breast cancer
detection with mammography.  Most breast implants reduce the sensitivity
of a screening mammogram pretty significantly.   The rather dense
material used (usu. silicone) obscures subtle fibrocycstic changes and micro-
calcifications, which can be early warnings of breast cancer.

Manufacturers of implants are working on more radiolucent materials, but I'm
not sure if they have been approved for general use yet.

-- 
Jay D'Lugin      jay@cso.UUCP  or  {pacbell|mcnc}!gladys!rbdc!cso!jay  or  
                 jay@fozzie.wustl.edu
The Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University
"J'en ai marre."