Toolkit for the management of breast implants and the importance of Informed educated consent.

Abstract

Breast implants have had a long and chequered history of periodic regulatory activity and class actions and are associated with significant medium and long term health risks, including the development breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).1–3. NSW Health through the Agency of Clinical Innovation has just released a toolkit for the management of breast implants.4 These are the result of collaborative clinical consensus across leaders in plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast surgery and radiology with support from the Surgical Services Taskforce and evidence directorate of the agency. Input was also sought from health consumers to ensure that the language and structure of the information was both comprehensive and accessible to women who were either considering either cosmetic augmentation or reconstruction and/or have breast implants in place.