If you are considering breast implants, make sure you research your options first. Many medical practitioners will try to "sell" you a plastic surgery procedure, such as a breast augmentation, without mentioning the dangers that the implants may impose. There are two different common kinds of breast implants, saline and silicone. Saline implants are filled with saline at the time of the surgery, but may feel hard or unnatural when the surgery is finished. Some surgeons have discovered new ways to remedy that complaint, like placing the implant slightly under the chest muscle and overfilling it.
Silicone breast implants are pre-filled with a silicone gel. This thick fluid mimics the feel of fat, so a silicone implant may feel and look more natural. While saline breast implants are available to any woman 18 or over, silicone implants are restricted to women over 21. Both silicone and saline implants come with risks, however. A third type of implant, known as a "gummy bear" implant, is a harder plastic gel that is made of cohesive silicone. Developers believe that this silicone may keep its shape better over time, but it is currently only available to women who are participating in clinical studies.
Many times the surgeries can result in breast pain, infections, scar tissues that distort the shape of the implant or an implant leakage or rupture. The surgery may also make permanent changes to breast sensation. In some cases, the patient may need to return for another surgery, which costs extra money and may require recovery time that causes lost wages. In some situations, an implant may rupture. When a saline implant leaks or pops, it will deflate, causing the breast to change size and shape. The saline will be absorbed into the body with few health risks, but you will need surgery to remove the silicone shell. Often a doctor can replace your implant at this time, but it may cost extra money to do so.
When a silicone breast implant ruptures, it is a larger fiasco. You may not notice the rupture immediately, and some women never notice that their implant has popped. No one has ever proved that the leaking silicone gel can cause long and severe health issues, but it may cause chest pain or a misshapen breast. When the implant ruptures, you will need to go to the doctor and schedule a surgery to remove (and replace, if desired) the implant. Currently, no study has been able to successfully prove a link between implants and breast cancer, even though there is some speculation about the situation.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends monitoring silicone breast implants with MRI scans every couple of years. This will allow you to determine whether or not you have rupture. There are constant studies probing the dangers of silicone and saline implants, though currently nothing has prevented the practice. Before you go ahead with your breast augmentation, Henry Mayo Clinic advises that you consider the following factors. Breast implants are not guaranteed to last. A leakage may lead to more surgeries, and you may need to return to your surgeon for breast lifts as the implants lose their shape.
As well, breast implants may interfere with your breast cancer screenings. The implants complicate routine mammography and you may need to take additional, and possibly more expensive, images. Breast implants also tend to hamper breastfeeding, and your insurance may not cover your breast implant operation. While the implants are clinically proven to be safe, you will want to weigh your options and situation before your take on the commitment to a breast implant surgery. Make sure that you know all of the possible risks by reading any paperwork carefully. If your plastic surgeon fails to warn you of the risks of a breast augmentation, or does a poor job on your surgery, you may have liable cause to prosecute for medical malpractice.