Dr. Semira Bayati is supporting a national breast implants registry that will compile reports of a very rare condition that can affect patients who have had breast augmentation. As of January of this year, the condition, called Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), has only been seen in 34 patients out of the 5 to 10 million women all over the world who have breast implants. Manifesting in scar tissue that forms around the implant, ALCL in most patients with breast implants can be treated in a number of ways, including ultimate removal of scar tissue and the implant itself. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the world’s leading organization devoted to plastic surgery and cosmetic enhancement, recently supported a decision made by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to put together a national breast implants registry that will document cases of ALCL, helping with the evaluation and monitoring of breast implants.
Dr. Bayati, as well as ASAPS, ASPS, and the FDA all believe that breast implants are safe. They also all share the belief that continued study and rigorous review of even the slightest possibility of complications with breast implants are imperative to ensure the continued safety of patients and the reduction of any associated risks.
Dr. Bayati says women who have had breast implants should be very diligent about examining their breasts regularly and going for routine follow-up exams, in addition to their regular mammograms. If patients notice any pain, swelling, or other regularities after having breast augmentation, they are encouraged to contact their doctor as soon as possible.
