Recent studies have made recommendations that women should get mammogram after the age of 50. These recommendations have stirred up controversy in the medical world, and has caused immense confusion with patients, especially as it relates to breast augmentation.
Patients who are considering breast augmentation should still consider obtaining a mammogram prior to their procedure depending on risk factors, no matter what their age. Although large studies have proven that there is no correlation between breast implants and breast cancer, there is still the small risk of a mass being present before the surgical procedure. Breast augmentation can effect (although minimally) detections of these masses, so a preoperative mammogram may have some use in detecting these masses.
After a breast augmentation is performed, women should still follow the recommendations of their primary care physicians as to when and how often to obtain mammograms. Most physicians recommend getting a mammogram at age 40 and then yearly after that. New recommendations have to be evaluated and discussed with primary care physicians before implementation by patients.
