Breast Augmentation Risks

Breast implants are medical devices. Like all medical devices, they provide certain benefits but also pose certain health risks. If you are considering breast implant surgery it is very important to understand the nature and extent of these risks before you make a decision. The decision to choose breast implant surgery can only be made by you in consultation with your doctor.

The short suggestion is: Just Say No to Breast Implants. The longer suggestion is to print off this page, put it on your fridge and read it frequently.

Potential Risks Related to Breast Augmentation

Research the risks before deciding on breast implant surgery so that you can make an informed decision.

Breast implants are not considered to be lifetime devices. Whether implant surgery is for the purpose of reconstruction or augmentation you will likely need additional surgeries and visits to your surgeon over time. At some point your implants will probably have to be removed and you will have to decide whether or not to replace them.

In addition, most women with breast implants will experience complications of some kind. These include rupture, pain, disfigurement, serious infections, and a condition called capsular contracture. This is a tightening of the scar tissue, or capsule, that the body forms around breast implants.

Before you decide to go forward with breast implant surgery, you should also consider the following:

• Many of the changes to the shape of the breast after implantation are irreversible.
• Removal of the implants may leave unacceptable dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes to the breast.
• Breast implants may affect your ability to produce milk for breastfeeding.
• Breast implants make routine screening mammography more difficult.
• Breast implant surgery carries the same general risks as other surgical procedures. Check with your doctor for more information about the standard risks.
• Some women believe breast implants cause systemic illnesses such as autoimmune disease or connective tissue disease. To date, there is no definite proof that this is the case.

Minimizing Your Risks