Every year, many women elect to go through an elective procedure known as breast augmentation. People have many different reasons why they choose to have this procedure performed, ranging from the benign to the more desperate. Still, aside from the normal risks associated with surgery, such as excessive bleeding or blood clots, there are a few risks that may occur as a result of breast augmentation that you should consider before a final decision is made.
Capsular Contracture – Capsular contracture causes the plastic, highly unnatural look that many people think of when they think of women who have had breast augmentation. This occurs when the tissue around the implant becomes scarred, usually by the rupturing of an implant following breast augmentation recovery. This condition can also potentially be painful, and having an additional surgery is the only way to correct it.
Breast Feeding – Some women prefer to naturally breast feed their babies, as opposed to bottle feeding. While only a very small percentage, there is always the risk of not being able to breast feed after undergoing breast augmentation surgery. Your surgeon will be able to discuss it further with you.
Cancer Detection – There is a small chance that having a breast implant may make it more difficult for tumors and small lesions to be detected when you are having a mammogram. In order to ensure that nothing is missed, the procedure may need to be adjusted slightly in order to ensure that anything risking your good health is caught.
Leaking – When fluid escapes from a saline implant, it is referred to as leaking; silicon implants, on the other hand, are said to be rupturing when the same thing happens. When the implant is a saline one, the chest deflates as it leaks because the body absorbs all that fluid. Capsular contracture, a potentially painful condition that was mentioned earlier, is the result of a ruptured silicon implant.
Numbness – When people undergo breast augmentation, there is a 15% chance that one of the side effects will be nipple numbness. There is no way to guarantee that this risk can be avoided.
Satisfaction – There is also a risk of not being satisfied with the procedure, especially if it is done to correct self-esteem or body image issues.
Talking with your surgeon about any potential benefits and risks that come with having a breast augmentation procedure is one of the most important steps in educating yourself and preparing to have the surgery performed.
