Breast Implant Check
All women with breast implants should undergo regular breast checks throughout their lives. New research shows that risks increase over time, making regular check-ups essential—ideally on an annual basis. It’s common for patients to have only one or two follow-up visits with their surgeon in the first few years after surgery, and then none at all. The Integrated Breast Health Clinic makes this service easily and conveniently accessible to women at a low cost. Victoriakliniken works in close collaboration with the Breast Center at Karolinska University Hospital, providing full support to address all types of breast implant-related complications directly.
Our Recommendation:
1. First, contact your original surgeon
Since the surgeon who performed your procedure has all relevant details regarding your surgery, they are best suited to conduct an examination and/or arrange further assessments if needed.
- If you are unable or prefer not to contact your original surgeon:
No matter where or by whom your previous surgery was performed, you can book a primary breast implant check at the International Breast Implant Check Clinic (IBICC) at Victoriakliniken Karlaplan in Stockholm. We offer consultations with our highly experienced senior plastic surgeons specializing in breast surgery, Dr. Jessica Gahm and Dr. Marie Jaeger. The visit includes a medical history review, a physical examination, and an ultrasound of your breasts.
Check-Up for Recent Breast Surgery
The International Breast Implant Check Clinic also provides a safe environment for women concerned about a recent surgery. Unfortunately, breast implant surgery is not always adequately regulated, and some women experience issues caused by poorly performed procedures—sometimes with serious consequences. In such cases, returning to the original surgeon may not be a safe option. Victoriakliniken offers a secure, confidential, and supportive setting where you can receive a professional evaluation from a specialized plastic surgeon.
What’s Included?
The visit includes a consultation with a medical history review, a physical examination, and an ultrasound examination.
Risks and Complications
Breast implants carry risks of implant leakage, rupture, and capsular contracture. Silicone breast implants can sometimes cause breast pain and/or changes in breast shape. A complication known as “double bubble” can occur when an implant shifts downward into the breast fold.
If you experience symptoms such as pain, tenderness, or swelling, lumps, or hardening of the affected breast, you should immediately consult your doctor. We recommend that all women with breast implants undergo regular check-ups.
BIA- ALCL
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare lymphoma associated with breast implants. The incidence of BIA-ALCL ranges from 1 in 2,207 to 1 in 86,029. There are approximately 1,400 cases worldwide, but unfortunately, the number of affected individuals is increasing. However, it is important to keep in mind that in relation to the number of implants placed in patients each year, the risk remains low.
BIA-ALCL typically occurs on average 10 years after implant placement and usually presents as large fluid-filled swellings around the implant (seroma). It can also cause a lump around the breast implant, although this is less common.
The etiology is not clear, but it indicates that BIA-ALCL is a multifactorial disease, where personal genetics play a role, and there is some evidence pointing to bacterial infection as a possible cause. It is important to have regular check-ups, as this lymphoma can be treated by removing the implant and the surrounding capsule if detected early.
There are other very rare cancers that can develop in the scar tissue capsule surrounding a breast implant, aside from BIA-ALCL, which include certain other types of lymphoma and breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC). The potential symptoms for these may resemble those of BIA-ALCL. Researchers are still trying to understand the risk factors for these cancers and whether there is a link to any specific type of breast implant or characteristics of the implants.
“Since some individuals do not want or are unable to contact their original surgeon, it is especially important to be able to offer this service. My colleague Dr. Jessica Gahm and I have conducted over 800 examinations and have so far detected 130 ruptures, 31 seromas, and 2 cases of BIA-ALCL, which is a rare T-cell lymphoma.”
Dr. Marie Jaeger, Licensed Physician and Specialist in Plastic Surgery.
Price
Prices vary slightly depending on whether you are an external patient (who has had surgery at another clinic) or a patient at Victoriakliniken and therefore included in our warranty program (in which case it is free of charge).
First visit for VK patients who have undergone primary breast augmentation at Victoriakliniken (within 10 years after surgery): 0 SEK.
Second visit for VK patients who have undergone primary breast augmentation at Victoriakliniken (more than 10 years after surgery): 1,600 SEK.
Patient who has had surgery at another clinic (first visit): 350 SEK.
Patient who has had surgery at another clinic (second visit): 2,000 SEK.