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Replacing old implants?

Page last modified on: September 18, 2008
Question from Dorothy: What happens if my nine-year-old breast implants need replacing? Is it recommended to take them out and not replace the implants, since this would require opening the breast near the cancer site?
Answer —Maurice Nahabedian, M.D.: If an implant requires replacement due to rupture or hardening or some other circumstance, we usually recommend implant replacement. If, after nine years, a cancer has not recurred, the chances of recurrence are significantly less over time, and I feel that a replacement can be safely performed without putting the breast at risk.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2003, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Breast Reconstruction. Maurice Nahabedian, M.D. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about different techniques in breast reconstruction, the pros and cons of implants and body tissue transfers, when you might want to reconstruct, and many more issues related to rebuilding your breast/s after breast cancer surgery.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Maurice Nahabedian, M.D. is director of the Center of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast and associate professor of plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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