Diagnostic imaging of the breast in aesthetic breast surgery

Abstract

Breast imaging should be carried out for patients who have had either reconstructive or cosmetic surgery or have breast implants for breast tissue evaluation, breast implant evaluation, and diagnosis of probable complications related to surgery.The author discusses the most commonly used implants and diagnostic imaging in patients with breast implants with mammography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography. In patients with a history of breast reduction surgery and mastectomies, the first mammogram should be done within 6 months from surgery, so the patient can tolerate the study and also postsurgical edema can be mitigated. In cases of mastectomy patients who need to be evaluated by MRI with intravenous gadolinium, this must be done 18 months after surgery; otherwise, there is focal increased uptake of the dye due to prolonged inflammation.