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Preparing for a Medical Appointment
You don't have to have everything figured out. The goal is simply to arrive organized, so the conversation starts from facts instead of memory. Your Tracker already holds most of this.
Bring your record
- Your symptom pattern and when each symptom started (your Tracker timeline).
- Your implant and surgery history — dates, sides, and any device details you have.
- Your patient device card and any implant records or operative reports, if you have them. The FDA notes patients are given a device card with information about their specific implants.
- Any prior imaging (ultrasound or MRI) and lab results you've been given.
- A short list of your top questions (see the “Questions to Ask Your Surgeon” guide).
Know what the FDA says patients should understand
- Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and additional surgeries may be needed over time.
- There is an FDA patient decision checklist that a provider should review with you before implant surgery.
- Silicone implants have rupture-screening recommendations using MRI or ultrasound.
During the appointment
- Share your timeline first — it's the fastest way to give context.
- Ask the clinician to explain any term you don't recognize.
- Write down what's decided and any next steps before you leave.
Sources referenced
- FDA — Things to Consider Before Getting Breast Implants ↗
- FDA — Breast Implant Surgery (boxed warning & patient decision checklist) ↗
This is a Breast Implant Illness Tracker educational guide — plain-language orientation, not a primary source. The linked sources are authoritative. Last updated 2026-09-02.
Breast Implant Illness Tracker provides education and organizational tools only and does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment.