The risk of implants for smokers has not been studied, but there is some
research showing that silicone in the breast area can irritate the lungs.
Since smoking also damages the lungs, the risks of implants for smokers needs
to be studied.
If silicone can cause autoimmune diseases or other systemic diseases
in some women, such a risk is expected to be smaller for an implant filled
with salt water rather than silicone gel. However, even saline implants can
leak small amounts of silicone or platinum into the body, which come from the
"envelope" of the implant. The long-term health risks of those leaks are
unknown.
Many doctors advise their patients to choose some kind of reconstruction
to "feel whole again." However, a recent study by Anne Kasper, Ph.D. found
that many reconstruction patients were disappointed by the results and were
not any happier than those who had not had reconstruction. For example, one
woman told me that she sometimes feels like her breast implants get in the
way "like balls of salt water" between herself and her husband, when they
make love.
How a woman feels about herself after a mastectomy is influenced by many
things, especially her health, and the support of her family and her friends.
Although most women want to look as good as possible, reconstruction is only
one aspect of how a woman feels about her body and herself.
I am not a medical doctor and can't make medical recommendations.
However, I am an experienced researcher and I am confident that research
information can help you make decisions that are not dependent on a clinical
assessment of your health.
Unfortunately, there are few published studies on the safety of breast
implants for mastectomy patients, and therefore most doctors can't provide a
great deal of objective information to their patients. Rather than just
asking your doctor for advice, I suggest you also speak with other patients,
especially those who made their decisions at least 5 years ago. And if you
decide on surgery, be sure to choose a board certified surgeon who is very
experienced, and speak to several previous patients who had surgery several
years ago as well as recent patients.
Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Center for Policy Research for Women and Families
1444 Eye Street, NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
