You aren’t happy with your current breasts. Perhaps it’s an issue of size, shape, firmness or all of the above. You may feel this way very strongly or you might just be flirting with making a change. One thing’s certain; before you sign up for breast augmentation surgery, there is a lot more you need to know.
Breast Implant 101
Breast implants are silicone shells filled with a liquid or gel – either saline or silicone. Both fillers are considered ‘reasonably safe’ for most women, but silicone implants are only approved for use by the FDA in women aged 21 or older (as opposed to age 18 for saline) due to safety concerns. Even though implants come in all shapes, textures and sizes, they still fall into either the saline/silicone category.
Risks of Breast Augmentation
The main risks associated with breast augmentation do not involve the surgery itself (although all surgeries present some degree of risk), but can manifest in the months, years and decades afterward. The most significant risk occurs when the implant breaks. When implants break, rupture or leak, even if the filler is saline and therefore considered safe inside the body, the deflated implant itself will need to be removed. The financial outlay of implant removal and/or replacement surgery may be required several times in a lifetime.
Common additional risks include loss of sensation in the nipples or pain in the breasts, both of which may interfere with sexual pleasure, and hardness in one or both breasts due to capsular contracture (scar tissue tightening around an implant).
Is There Anyone Who Should Not Consider Breast Implants?
If you are thinking of having children, it’s important to know that implants can interfere with your ability to breastfeed. Another consideration is if you have a family history of health problems, such as auto-immune diseases, you might not want to risk putting a foreign substance in the body. It has also been shown that implants make it more difficult to detect breast cancers with a mammogram (mammograms may also cause implants to rupture, especially if the technician is not familiar with implants) so someone with a family history of breast cancer should be aware of this.
Do Breast Implants Cause Disease?
It is difficult to tell whether breast augmentation surgery puts women at greater risk of developing disease. Some studies have linked breast implants to a higher incidence of diseases like fibromyalgia, but it is hard to establish a cause/effect link because it can be argued that the women would have developed these diseases anyhow.
Still Not Sure If You’re the Right Candidate for Breast Augmentation Surgery?
If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery, you should first schedule a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon to see if the procedure is right for you. At Royal Centre of Plastic Surgery, we know that you may have many questions about the procedure. That’s why Dr. Dickie will sit with you during your consultation and answer all your questions.
Contact us for more information on breast augmentation and see how we can help you achieve your desired look.