What You Should Know About Breast Augmentation

Recently, more and more women choose to undergo surgery in order to reconstruct and enhance their appearance. The most popular cosmetic surgery procedure involves increasing and enhancing the size of the breasts of a woman. In 1997, approximately 101,000 cases of breast augmentation are performed. However, in the present year, this number of cases more than tripled. Breast augmentation, which is also known as augmentation mammaplasty, involves the use of implants to fulfill the desire to have fuller breasts. Breast augmentation may also be used for reconstructive purposes especially for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) which involves the removal of the entire breast to prevent the spread of malignancy.

Breast augmentation involves the use of silicone or saline breast implants. These implants can either be placed behind the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle to add size, shape, and fullness to the breast. It can also help in balancing breasts that are asymmetrical and restore its fullness which has been diminished as a result of aging, pregnancy, as well as accidents and other health conditions which often lead to wasting and tissue atrophy. The process of breast augmentation may take several weeks from the first consultation to the post-operative period. This process requires thorough and constant communication between the surgeon and the client.

Before making decisions with regards to having breast augmentation, it is very important for the client to gain understanding and knowledge with regards to the procedure, its risks, benefits and probable results. Usually for about a few weeks, the client will be able to fully recover. However, it is important to keep in mind that the actual time it will take for the client to fully recover from the procedure depends primarily on the client’s present health status and condition, as well as with the degree of the enlargement, and several other factors.

There are also some serious risks associated with breast augmentation. Examples of more common risks of this surgical procedure include contractures, sepsis and ruptured breast implants. Implants are expected to break and rupture eventually although how many years it will take for the implants to break has not yet been clearly identified. In some cases, breast implants may take 7 to 12 years or even more than 15 years, without being ruptured while in other cases, even after a few months following the surgery, the implants are already ruptured.  

Some people argue that breast implants can cause diseases and other illnesses such as autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and even death. But there have been no strong evidences that prove to these claims. Breast augmentation may considered be a problem especially to lactating or breastfeeding mothers. Studies show that in most cases of breast implants, there is a reduced and inadequate milk production to meet the needs of the newborn. Other studies also found out that the milk produced by a woman who has undergone this surgical procedure contains significant amount of toxins compared to a breastfeeding woman who has no breast implants.

It is important for women who are thinking of having breast augmentation to consult first with an expert. This will allow them to gain insight with regards to both the benefits and disadvantages of breast augmentation. These women must evaluate thoroughly whether the benefits of this procedure outweigh the risks brought about by this kind of surgery.