Augmentation mammoplasty: implications for the primary care provider

To inform primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) of the risks and possible complications of augmentation mammoplasty and suggest guidelines for counseling and monitoring women who have undergone this procedure.

Selected research and clinical articles, government documents, and the author's experience.

Because so many women have had breast augmentation mammoplasty, it is inevitable that NPs will see patients in the primary care settings who have complications related to the procedure or the type of implant. The most common complications include (a) changes in breast sensation, (b) capsular contracture, (c) calcifications, (d) mammography distortion or inaccuracies, (e) gel-bleed, (f) implant rupture or leakage, and (g) possible systemic reactions involving the immune system.

In addition to providing support and high quality preventive care, NPs may need to take on the task of coordinating other specialities and services when treating complications or when screening for breast cancer or implant rupture.