|
In addition to collecting information from your insurance company, you should also ask your doctor to provide cost information such as:
- What are the costs of getting breast implants (the implants, the anesthesia, the surgery, etc.)?
- What are the costs for follow-up visits?
- What are the costs for detecting or treating a complication, especially treatment that involves a reoperation, such as implant removal with or without replacement?
- What is the specific manufacturer warranty for the implants that you are gathering information on?
Realistic Expectations: Your decision whether or not to get breast implants should be also based on realistic expectations of the outcome. There is no guarantee that your results will match those of other women. Your results will depend on many individual factors, such as your overall health (including age), chest structure, breast/nipple shape and position, skin texture, healing capabilities (which may be slowed by radiation and chemotherapy treatment, smoking, alcohol, and various medications), tendency to bleed, prior breast surgery(ies), surgical team's skill and experience, type of surgical procedure, and type and size of implant.
FDA Breast Implant Consumer Handbook - 2004
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
Breast implants may vary in shell surface (smooth versus textured), shape (round or shaped), profile (how far it sticks out), volume (size), and shell thickness. The primary parts of most breast implants are a shell (otherwise known as the envelope or lumen), a filler, and a patch to cover the manufacturing hole.
|