Medical doctors Debunk The Most Frequent Breast Well being Myths

Breasts are typically a subject of dialog, and with that, there’s been quite a lot of misinformation unfold about breast well being, wellness and surgical procedure. We requested specialists to clear up essentially the most frequent myths they hear about breast well being to set the document straight.

Featured specialists

• George Sanders, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon based mostly in Encino, CA
• Dhivya Srinivasa, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon based mostly in Santa Monica, CA

Delusion: Dense breast tissue means you’ve breast most cancers

The truth of this fable is difficult as generally dense breast tissue may be an indication of most cancers, so it’s important to get checked and unravel it with a board-certified physician. Nevertheless, if your mammogram reveals dense breast tissue, you don’t must robotically assume the worst.

“Dense tissue is a analysis that comes from imaging similar to a mammogram. It primarily means your breasts have extra densely packed breast tissue and fewer fatty tissue,” explains Santa Monica, CA plastic surgeon Dhivya Srinivasa, MD. “It’s the breast tissue that may turn into cancerous, so it’s important that we picture it correctly. We all know that dense breast tissue can cover breast most cancers on mammograms, as it’s tougher to detect new tumors in dense breasts on mammograms.” She urges girls with dense breast tissue to request extra imaging similar to ultrasound or MRI.

Delusion: Sporting a bra prevents breasts from sagging

Dr. Srinivasa says whereas this fable might need some relevance to it, it’s not the top all be all that individuals make it out to be. “Basically, supporting your breast tissue releases strain from the pores and skin and might reduce pores and skin stretch over time,” she explains. “That mentioned, you may put on an underwire bra 100% of the time, and your breasts will nonetheless develop some sag over time. That is due to genetics and gravity. Everybody has a variation to their pores and skin stretch, so genetics play an enormous function.”

“One other essential issue is the dimensions of your breasts. The bigger your breasts are, the extra weight that pulls down on the pores and skin,” says Dr. Srinivasa. “Whether or not you prefer to put on a bra or not, I don’t advocate doing it solely for the needs of stopping ‘ptosis’ or sagging of the breasts. Doubtless, genetics, which you haven’t any management over, play a a lot greater function than bra practices.”

Delusion: Breast implants must be changed each 10 years

“We frequently hear that breast implants must be changed each 10 years. The reality is that except there’s a drawback, no alternate is critical,” says Encino, CA plastic surgeon George Sanders, MD. He notes that leakage or capsular contracture are causes that mandate implant alternate.

“Different sufferers might choose a change in measurement, a change in what the implant is stuffed with, a change in form, or maybe they’re present process a breast raise and need to benefit from the surgical alternative to switch an older implant earlier than it leaks,” says Dr. Sander. “The FDA advice is for an MRI or ultrasound each few years after insertion of silicone implants to examine for a leak. This ultrasound can often be conveniently completed concurrently a mammogram.”

Delusion: Breast ache equals most cancers

Breast ache may be alarming, however the specialists say you don’t must panic. “Breast ache is most frequently a benign discovering, that means that there isn’t any most cancers.  In reality, most breast cancers are painless,” says Dr. Srinivasa. “That mentioned, it is very important discover out why you’ve breast ache. There are various non-cancerous causes that may be hormonal in nature.”

Dr. Srinivasa notes that benign lots similar to a cyst or a fibroadenoma may cause ache. “Though these usually are not cancerous, you continue to need to have them evaluated by a breast surgeon and adopted over time to ensure they don’t develop or change.”

Delusion: You may’t breastfeed after a breast discount

Dr. Srinivasa says you may completely nonetheless breastfeed post-augmentation. “There are quite a lot of girls affected by again and neck ache on account of massive breasts who’re afraid to have surgical procedure due to misconceptions about breastfeeding. Relaxation assured, you may nonetheless breastfeed after a breast discount.”

Delusion: Older girls usually are not good candidates for breast augmentation

Dr. Sanders says this fable “flies within the face of the truth that many older girls have breast implant surgical procedure.” He notes that it’s oftentimes to alternate implants or take away them due to growing breast measurement. “In different instances, nevertheless, first time augmentation is enthusiastically pursued. If the individual’s total well being is nice and expectations are reasonable, the outcomes may be most gratifying.”

Delusion: Breast implants are the one method to get greater breasts

Dr. Srinivasa factors to a handful of different methods that may increase a breast with out using implants. “These vary from fats grafting (the place we carry out liposuction and switch fats to the breasts) to microsurgery procedures the place we will transplant massive quantities of fats from different elements of your physique,” she explains.

Delusion: You want an implant to get a breast raise

An implant is definitely not vital for a breast raise. “A breast raise primarily ‘re-seams’ the pores and skin such that the tissue you have already got is lifted and made perkier. A breast raise permits for extra cleavage, higher fullness within the higher a part of the breast, and improved nipple place.”