There are risks involved with every surgical procedure, including breast augmentation. Most issues or complications occur during the patient’s recovery immediately following the breast augmentation, but there are long-term risks as well. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently reported a link between breast implants and a rare type of cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma. If you have breast implants—or are considering a breast augmentation—it’s important to understand whether or not you are at risk of developing anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
Who Is At Risk After A Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Some patients are at a higher risk of developing anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Research shows that patients with textured breast implants are at a greater risk of developing this type of cancer than patients with smooth breast implants. For this reason, patients with smooth saline or silicone implants should not worry.
There’s no need to panic even if you have textured silicone or saline implants. In fact, the FDA does not recommend removing your textured implants. Having textured implants does not mean you will definitely suffer from anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The chances of getting this cancer are very small even in patients with textured implants.
What Signs and Symptoms Should You Look For?
Talk to your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Pain or tenderness around the breasts
- Swelling around the breasts
- Changes affecting one breast, including an increase in volume
If you spot one or more of these symptoms, contact your plastic surgeon as soon as possible. If you are not experiencing any of these symptoms, there’s no need to worry about anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Simply continue to see your plastic surgeon for your routine follow-up appointments.