Appearance? You May Get More Than You Figured (NAPS)—Aswestart the new millennium, many women con- sider a different or fresh start to feeling stronger and looking better. While exercise and eating right are a good start, some find plastic surgery to be an easier alternative. When weare bombarded by images of the “perfect body” we don’t often see the health risks associated with trying to achieve this image. Breast implants may not accomplish the goal of making you look and feel better. In fact, there are a number of risks to your health that you should consider including: Tightening of the scar tissue surrounding the implant can lead to painful, misshapen breasts and is a precursor to implant rupture. Rupture and deflation. Breast implants obscure mammograhics and self-exam, making early detection of breast cancer moredifficult. Loss of breast and/or nipple sensation. Rupture, deflation, hardening and infection can lead to multiple surgeries which carry risks of their own. An informative brochure, Painful Truths: What Women Still Need to Know About Breast Implants, is available by calling the Command Trust Network at 310-556-1738 or visiting the site www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants.
