Risks Associated with Breast Augmentation Surgery

Any surgery involves a certain amount of risk and it is important that the patient understands the underlying risks, before she takes a decision on it.

An individual's choice to undergo breast augmentation should definitely be based on the comparison of the consequences to likely benefit. Complications vary from person to person and every patient experiences her own individual risks, but still the patient should have complete idea about the possible outcomes.

An overview of the possible risks:-

  1. Capsular contracture - occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This can cause the breast to feel hard. Additional surgery may be required to remove the scar tissue. In some instances, the breast implant may need to be replaced.
  2. Infection:- When infection occurs, it usually does so within one to six weeks after surgery. Symptoms include fever, swelling, redness. Most infections are treated with antibiotics, but in some cases, the implant may need to be removed. Infections at times increase the likelihood of capsular contracture.
  3. Difficulty in mammography :-Saline and silicone implants make the visibility of breast tissue (in which tumors can be present) in mammography difficult. Therefore, doctors recommend that the implants be placed under the muscle so that breast tissue is pushed further out but not totally obscured. However, even this procedure is not fully effective.
  4. In many cases, nipples become oversensitive or even numb. You may also notice small areas of numbness near the incisions and along your arm. These symptoms may be permanent in some patients.
  5. Leak or rupture of the implant requiring additional surgery to replace the previous one. Rupture may be caused due to-
    • Damage by surgical instruments
    • Compression during mammographic imaging
    • Capsular contracture
    • Under or over filling during insertion
    • Normal erosion caused by ageing
  6. Hematoma and Seroma:- Hematoma (collection of blood), and seroma (collection of fluid) within the tissue leading to capsular contracture and infection. Although the body can absorb small hematomas, large ones require the use of surgical drains to heal properly. Surgical draining may cause a small scar, and often damage to the implant.
  7. Wrinkling and rippling of the implant:- occurs when the material inside the implant shifts around. Breast implant rippling is common if the implant is large and there is little muscle or fatty tissue to conceal it. Wrinkling is most likely to appear on the outer side of the breast, along the bottom of the breast.
  8. Difficulty while breast-feeding: - Breast implants often cause the nipples to become more or less sensitive than normal. While lactating, the patient may have increased breast enlargement and experience pain, fever. However, there is no evidence that silicon from silicon gel implants can leak into breast milk and endanger the baby.

    9. Some women believe that breast implants may cause autoimmune disease or connective tissue disease, but there is no definite proof to justify this.

    Prepare yourself for the surgery only after you are well aware of the potential risks and are mentally ready to combat them.