Regular maintenance (exercise-healthy diet) is the key to a good body as you discovered before you had your implants done. You have worked hard to reach your ideal image so you know what it’s all about. Regular check-ups help to keep you healthy overall and now that you have implants, it also needs to be considered.
Since not all surgeons agree on the subject of pocket quadrant exercises or implant massage compressions, you should ask your board certified surgeon about these exercises.
Since capsular contracture is one of the most common side effects, let’s look at what it is. To understand it, let’s look at the body’s reaction to a foreign object. When a foreign object is implanted, the human body immediately begins to encase the foreign object by creating a capsule of fibrous tissue to protect the body from the foreign object. The reaction is the same whether the foreign object is something medically implanted such as a breast implant or accidentally implanted like stepping on a thorn.
Capsular contracture is when that fibrous tissue that is surrounding your implant begins to tighten and contract. Sometimes the contraction is minor and unnoticeable or it can be extreme with pain and distortion. There is no long term data to show who or what type of breast implant will have capsular contracture.
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The idea behind the pocket quadrant exercises and massage compressions is to keep the pocket your implant is in, roomy and the capsule loose and elastic to possibly prevent capsular contracture. Remember, not all surgeons suggest this, so check with them before you do these. If your surgeon suggests this type of exercise, he will also tell you when to start it, following surgery, how often and for how long.
A general overview of the pocket quadrant exercises is that it involves moving your implant to the top of the pocket and holding for a few seconds. This is repeated downward and left/right. Compression of the implant itself should only be done with the guidance of your surgeon.
A baseline mammogram should be done before breast augmentation so that, later it can be compared for any kind of changes. The risk of breast cancer does not go away because you have received implants, so regular self examination is important. Your surgeon will guide you on how to perform a self examination so you can tell the difference between your breast tissue and the implant.
The manufacturers of all implants licensed in the United States recommend follow up mammograms and stress on the necessity of making sure that the technician doing it is aware of your implants. There are special techniques used to get the views, necessary to tell the difference between breast tissue and implant. Mammography is still the best way to check breast tissue for abnormalities.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can be used to check for ruptured implants and the condition of the implants, as well as investigating questionable things on a mammogram. A MRI provides a three dimensional picture of the breast and implant. An MRI without contrast (a liquid injected into the blood) will be able to tell what you need to know about your implants. If your breast tissue is in question, then contrast may be requested. The rule of thumb is, if you have silicone implants you should plan on a MRI for three years following implantation and then every two years.
Were you a part of a implant study? If so, make sure your mammogram/MRI results and reports are sent to them. It is important that the results are reported back to the manufacturers so they can be studied and tracked.
Since each woman is unique, she should follow her surgeon’s advice regarding follow up tests and check ups. You imagined the new you, you took the steps to create the new you, now make sure you maintain that new you!
Tags: exercise, healthy diet
