West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon Discusses Breast Implant Safety Concerns
Dr. Mark Pinsky, Medical Director of Pinsky Plastic Surgery, provides the facts about BIA-ALCL, the textured breast implant recall, and plastic surgery procedures for removing implants.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL—Recent news from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about confirmed cases of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and Allergan®’s voluntary recall of BIOCELL® textured surface breast implants have caused many patients to wonder about the safety of their breast implants. As a board-certified plastic surgeon in West Palm Beach with more than 20 years of experience performing cosmetic and corrective breast surgery, Mark Pinsky, MD, provides guidance to concerned women who are considering the next steps to take in identifying potential implant problems and protecting their health.
While instances of BIA-ALCL and other breast implant related illness (BII) are understandably alarming, Dr. Pinsky points out that being diagnosed with these health conditions is very rare. Based on current statistics confirmed by the FDA, the likelihood of developing BIA-ALCL is thought to be incredibly low, occurring in less than 0.03% of patients with textured breast implants worldwide. Since his time as an FDA Clinical Investigator for both Mentor® Corporation and Allergan® breast implants, Dr. Pinsky has stayed current with BIA-ALCL and BII developments. He offers patients who are concerned about their breast implants the opportunity to come to Pinsky Plastic Surgery for an examination and an open discussion of any worrisome breast implant issues. Many women are interested in learning more about BIA-ALCL and BII from Dr. Pinsky, as well as obtaining specific details about the current condition of their breast implants and breast health.
If patients with textured breast implants are experiencing symptoms of BIA-ALCL—which can include persistent pain, breast hardening/enlargement, a lump in the breast or armpit, and/or swelling from fluid collecting around the outside of the implant—Dr. Pinsky may recommend an MRI and/or fluid aspiration for further testing. It is not uncommon for women to express a desire to remove their implants altogether as a preventative measure; however, Dr. Pinsky says breast implant removal options should be carefully considered, as any additional surgery carries its own inherent risks.
For women enduring health issues related to their breast implants or those who simply have a personal desire to have their breast implants removed, Dr. Pinsky offers state-of-the-art explant procedures performed with exacting surgical precision. Among the explant options available at Pinsky Plastic Surgery, one type of advanced procedure called en bloc capsulectomy has gained increasing attention with regard to rising BIA-ALCL and BII awareness. As Dr. PInsky explains, “En bloc capsulectomy is not only the complete removal of the scar tissue surrounding a breast implant, but doing so in one complete piece.” Thus, the breast implant and surrounding scar tissue are removed from the body completely intact. While there is an absence of adequate data to support the claim that en bloc capsulectomy offers additional health benefits when compared to other explant techniques and total capsulectomy, it is believed to be potentially the safest approach for preventing the systemic spread of breast implant-related disease because the en bloc capsulectomy technique prevents pathogens from exiting the capsule and requires complete removal of scar tissue from the body.
Dr. Pinsky is careful to point out that, “Patients need to be vigilant when selecting a surgeon to perform en bloc capsulectomy, as some surgeons who claim to perform en bloc capsulectomy may remove the capsule in pieces, while others can leave significant portions of the capsule in the breast pocket. The reality is that without photographic evidence of what took place during the procedure the patient may not know what type of capsulectomy was actually performed.” The en bloc capsulectomy procedure requires an advanced degree of surgical skill to complete properly, and Dr. Pinsky presents himself as being among an elite group of plastic surgeons who have the requisite surgical experience and ethical standards to be a reliable choice for en bloc capsulectomy. Dr. Pinsky also frequently performs breast implant replacement or other procedures to restore natural-looking breast shape after explant, such as breast lift (mastopexy) and simultaneous implant exchange with fat (SIEF).
Ultimately, Dr. Pinsky hopes that women with breast implant concerns seek out the assistance of experienced board-certified plastic surgeons who can safely provide any necessary diagnostic and surgical solutions that are required.
About Mark Pinsky, MD
Dr. Pinsky is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience and the Medical Director of Pinsky Plastic Surgery located in Palm Beach Gardens. At Pinsky Plastic Surgery, Dr. Pinsky offers a full range of surgical and non-surgical options for enhancing the appearance of the face, body, breast, and skin. For each patient, Dr. Pinsky focuses on creating personalized aesthetic solutions that deliver youthful, proportionate, natural-looking results. His practice is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and innovative aesthetic systems that help improve patient comfort and treatment outcomes, while minimizing recovery time. Dr. Pinsky is an active member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Dr. Pinsky is available for interview upon request.
For more information about Dr. Pinsky and Pinsky Plastic Surgery please visit pinskymd.com and facebook.com/PinskyPlasticSurgery.
Contact:
Pinsky Plastic Surgery
11020 RCA Center Dr. Ste. 2010
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 881-8800
Rosemont Media
(858) 200-0044
www.rosemontmedia.com