mybody mychoice mybreastpotential risks of breast augmentation

Are there any risks?

As a general rule, breast enlargement is a safe operation when carried out by expert hands.

There are some potential risks, though, and Mybreast believe that you should be aware of them. These risks are small but real, and definitely worth evaluating before you consider proceeding with surgery. Before outlining them, may we give you the following reassurance:

Mysurgeon explained the risks to me from the start. I was worried about the scarring and pain after surgery, but my post op recovery was so quick. There was no bruising and even though there is a bit of scarring, it really isn’t very noticeable because the incisions were so small.EL

At Mybreast we are constantly collecting and analysing our surgeons’ breast enlargement data in order to identify and further reduce any possible complications.

Also, you can actively reduce the potential for any problems occurring with breast enlargement surgery by adhering to the pre and post-operative instructions given to you by your Mybreast surgeon.

Here, then, is a list of risks to consider:

Immediately following surgery:

Long term considerations

Immediately following surgery

In the first few days following breast enlargement surgery you may expect swelling, firmness of the breast, and a degree of discomfort. Bruising and twinges of pain are common. Changes in breast sensation can also occur; most are temporary, but some may be permanent.

Symptoms that require immediate contact with your mybreast surgeon include:

  • Excessive swelling of one or both sides
  • Any wound discharge
  • Excessive pain or a feeling of heat or chills in your breasts
  • Excessive night sweats

Excessive swelling

Excessive swelling might mean you have developed a collection of blood around the implant. This is called a haematoma, and in most cases it needs to be surgically drained. This does not affect the outcome of your surgery, and occurs in up to 5% of cases.

Wound discharge

Wound discharge that is clear might represent a seroma, which is a collection of straw-coloured fluid around the implant. Usually this is not serious, but it may need to be drained to speed up your healing.

Any offensive wound discharge, feeling of heat in the breasts, chills or night sweats might be a sign of infection. This is extremely rare, and in most cases the implants will need to be removed. Once you have healed, new implants may be inserted at a later date.

Long term considerations

In the first few months following breast enlargement surgery you can expect to see the fluctuation of swelling in your breasts disappear, and for them to become comfortable and feel like part of you.

Hardening of the Breasts (Capsular contracture)

When any foreign material is placed in the body, tissues react by building a layer of scar tissue around it. The scar tissue then contracts, and the result of this contracture can cause, in some patients, a hardening of the breast. Known as capsular contracture, it is more common if the implant is placed over the muscle rather than under it. Approximately 2-5% of women with implants may develop capsular contracture during the lifetime of their implant. If the contracture becomes uncomfortable or distorts the shape of the breast, it may need to be released surgically and the implant may have to be replaced. Fortunately, modern implants, such as the Inspira™ SOFT TOUCH™ preferred by Mybreast, have a textured surface to reduce the effects of contracture.

Rupture and life expectancy of implants

A rupture involves a hole or split forming in the shell of the implant. With modern implants, this rarely causes a problem.

The Inspira™ implants used by Mybreast are made of a cohesive gel which is designed to eliminate spread in the event of a rupture. Ruptures of modern silicone breast implants generally involve the gel remaining within the scar tissue capsule that is naturally created by the body. This means it will not spread any further throughout the body.

Occasionally, silicone may spread outside the scar tissue capsule and create a number of lumps called silicone granulomas. These can create tenderness in the armpit, but are not dangerous.

The life expectancy of modern, high-grade implants like the ones used at Mybreast is yet to be known, but is very likely to exceed the 10 years that was previously considered. This is why ALLERGAN offers a lifetime guarantee on their Inspira™ range of implants which are the highest quality in the marketplace.

Remember, while there is no fixed date at which you will require another operation, it is worth considering that breast enlargement usually implies having further breast surgery at some time in your life. This may be to change implants, lift your nipples, or perform many other adjustments that become necessary as the breast ages.

Please note: With Mybreast’s 5-year aftercare, you are covered for both capsular contracture and rupture.

Scarring

This is a natural result of the incision, and it needn’t be a major concern to you. Most breast enlargement scars today are fairly inconspicuous and heal well; in some cases, however, the scar may take years to mature. The way your body heals is, to a large extent, out of your and the surgeon’s control. Scarring can be influenced by various creams and rosehip oils which you’ll find in your homecare kit.

Breast Appearance

You may not always be entirely happy with the position of your breast implants, the depth of cleavage, the difference between either side, or the way the implants sit when you lie down. Make sure you discuss your expectations with your Mybreast surgeon before your breast enlargement operation. Many aspects come down to individual preferences, and you will need to take each one into consideration. If your expectations are impossible to reconcile with your surgical anatomy, we would recommend that you do not have surgery, as you may be disappointed.

Breast Differences

If your breasts are different from each other (a condition called breast asymmetry), enlargement can amplify the differences and make them appear more obvious, just as a specific implant size may not necessarily produce a certain bra size increase. If this is the case, your surgeon will warn you at your initial consultation. Fortunately, Mybreast use Inspira™ implants, which can be tailored to suit you, helping to avoid this problem.

Creasing and folds

If you have very little breast tissue, less desirable characteristics may become visible, such as creasing, kinking, and rippling in the breast. As a general rule, the slimmer you are, the more your implants will become visible. Also, they will always be palpable, usually under the breast.