Q: Why Does My Doctor Seem to Downplay the Risks of Breast Augmentation?We trust our doctors to stay on top of the latest developments in medicine. It’s hard, however, to expect them to go beyond the body of research that’s readily available, and what is now available does not prove that implants pose an unacceptably high risk to a woman’s health. The available research is faulty in that it heavily focuses on women who had implants for less than five years. More research is necessary in order for doctors to be able to assess the long-term effects of this medical device that resides in women’s bodies for decades. Doctors who perform cosmetic breast implant surgery are also very motivated to grow this part of their practice. Cosmetic breast augmentation procedures are not covered by insurance, so recipients must pay out-of-pocket. This saves medical offices the time and resources they must devote to handling insurance claims. It also means that cosmetic implant surgery is more lucrative that other procedures because doctors can apply fees freely, without regard to guidelines and limits imposed by insurance companies. Finally, any doctor - including dentists - is allowed by law to call him- or herself a plastic surgeon and perform breast augmentation surgery. Such doctors do not have the training and experience to properly judge and share with you potential risks. It is critically important that any woman considering implants make sure that the plastic surgeon she selects is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Certification guarantees that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school; has done a proper residency in general surgery, ENT, and plastic and reconstructive surgery; has passed written and oral board exams; and has practiced in the field for at least two years after training. | |
