Journal time: Breast Implants and Risk of Breast Cancer. Meta-Analysis

Posted on December 29, 2015

1This is a study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal January 2015.  “Breast Implants and the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies.”  It is a study out of the Netherlands.

Why:

Breast implants are one of the most common aesthetic surgical procedures.  There are over 1 million surgeries done a year.  The incidence of breast cancer is also increasing.  Some have hypothesized breast implants may contribute to breast cancer.

Meta-analysis was done as pooling the data of other studies helps improve precision as to the real risk.

How:

They pooled studies looking at breast cancer in women who had cosmetic augmentation only.  (Those who had breast augmentation for breast cancer reconstruction would skew the results, as those women are at higher risk for a cancer.)  17 studies were used.

Findings:

No increased risk of breast cancer.