Risks of Breast Enlargement
Every women dreams of the perfect pair of breasts. Unfortunately, few women receive the coveted perfect pair: either they're are too small, asymmetrical, different sizes or saggy. That's why many women across the world opt to have breast enlargement surgery.
Breast enlargement surgery means that implants, comprised of either saline or silicone, are inserted into the breast tissue, creating a larger chest. Many different sizes of implants are available, giving women the opportunity to dictate exactly what size of breasts they want.
However, breast enlargement surgery, like any type of surgery, brings risks and complications.
Infection
According to Dr. Jean Luftus, board-certified plastic surgeon, the highest risk for developing infection comes within two months of the procedure.
If you develop an infection after your surgery, expect to have the infected implant removed. Unfortunately, if your implant is removed, you'll have to wait at least six months to have another one inserted. This means several months with uneven breasts.
Luckily, the chances of developing an infection are slim: only 1 percent of breast enlargement recipients suffer from infection.
Rippling
Rippling is a harmless, but unsightly risk of breast enlargement surgery. Rippling is the appearance of waviness or wrinkling of the skin over your breast implants and is the result of the saline shifting in the implants.
Rippling becomes a real nuisance when it occurs on the upper portion of the implant as the ripples can be visible in lower-cut tops and bathing suits.
Your doctor can make sure your implants are smooth instead of textured and that the implant is placed under the muscle instead of over. Both of these techniques dramatically reduce the chances of rippling.
Capsular Contracture
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, one of the potentially-painful risks of breast enlargement surgery is developing a capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is a scar that develops immediately around the implant, causing it to look unnatural, feel firm and hurt. This leads to the implants looking unnatural and obviously fake. It's thought to be more common in silicone implants rather than saline ones.
If you think you have a capsular contracture, see your doctor. If your contracture turns out to be a moderate-to-severe case, your doctor will want to operate and remove the affected implant. Luckily, a new implant can be inserted at the same time.
Methods that avoid capsular contractures are similar to rippling, including having your doctor place your implants underneath the muscle instead of over it.
Hematoma
Dr. Luftus says that hematomas are one of the more serious risks of breast enlargement surgery. A hematoma is a collection of blood around the implant and usually appears within the first few weeks after surgery.
hematomas usually require surgery to remove because they increase the potential of infection and capsular contracture. They also increase your chances of developing potentially-dangerous blood clots in the body.
Overall, less than 2 percent of breast enlargement surgeries result in hematomas. You can reduce your chances of developing a hematoma by avoiding blood-thinning medications like aspirin and ibuprofen and vigorous exercise for at least four weeks post-surgery.
Rupture
Implant rupture was big news in the 1990s when many women suffered from ruptured silicon implants. These days, implant shells are thicker and the chances of rupture are small.
Saline implants generally deflate and silicone implants rupture. The only real difference between the two is that saline is generally absorbed by the body and silicone collects outside the implant shell, causing inflammation. This inflammation, in turn, can cause a capsular contracture. If that happens, you will have to have surgery to repair the contracture and replace the implant.
Minimizing Risk
Problems can (and do) develop from breast enlargement surgery, so you must take steps before and after surgery to minimize your risk. Dr. Luftus recommends that you first find a certified plastic surgeon who has many years of experience and satisfied clients. Certified plastic surgeons understand the risks of the procedure and will advise you avoid them.
Next, Dr. Luftus advises all of her patients to closely follow her instructions, including avoiding strenuous activity in the weeks following the procedure. Also, caring for your implants consistently and thinking of them whenever undertaking any major exercise routine or major physical exertion can mean the different between a successful breast enlargement surgery and one that needs surgical correction.
