Breast Implants Are Not Lifetime Devices

Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and that’s ok! Althoughbreast implants are designed to be highly durable and long-lasting, and in most cases can last for many years without any issues, it is important to remember that they are not lifetime devices and at some point may need exchanging. You may decide to exchange your implants for aesthetic reasons; you would like to change the style or size, or in some cases you may want to exchange your implants for a newer version or you may experience a surgical complication which may require further surgery.

Although breast augmentation is recognized as one of the leading cosmetic procedures performed worldwide, a common false belief is that this surgery is a minor procedure with minimal risks. This is untrue, and in fact, without well-grounded research into the choice of breast implants, surgeon, and facility, breast augmentation surgery can turn into a journey of surgical complications resulting in additional procedures and further costs. Thus, it is important to choose a breast implant with low complication rates and high-quality safety data. In addition to a board-certified surgeon with a great deal of breast surgery experience, and who operates out of an accredited hospital facility. Making these choices in addition to conducting well-grounded research before your surgery, can significantly reduce the risk of complications associated with breast augmentation.

In this article, we will break down some of the possible complications you might experience undergoing this procedure.

Capsular contracture 

Although every breast augmentation procedure will form a scar around the breast implant, which is normal, capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue continues to contract (harden), causing the breast to tighten and become distorted, and in some cases, can be painful.

There are four grades of capsular contracture, known as Baker grades.

Baker Grading Scale

• Grade I: Breast is normally soft and looks natural
• Grade II: Breast is a little firm but looks normal
• Grade III: Breast is firm and looks abnormal
• Grade IV: Breast is hard, painful, and looks abnormal

Grades III and IV capsular contracture are considered severe and may require reoperation.

Capsular contracture is recognized as the most common complication following breast augmentation surgery, and with some older generation implants, the risk of capsular contracture can be as high as 18.9%. However, with newer, next-generation implants, some published scientific studies have seen a significantly reduced risk of capsular contracture as low as less than 1%.

Rupture

Breast implant rupture can occur extracapsular (outside the implant capsule) and often presents as a lump with or without pain, or intracapsular, also known as a silent rupture in which the silicone gel has linked through the implant shell but is still within the capsule. Silent ruptures are harder to detect and often require an MRI scan to detect the rupture. The risk of implant rupture is significantly higher with older generation implants with a rupture risk of 24.5%. However, newer generation implants have changed the shell technology, which increases the durability of the implant and has significantly lowered rupture rates to less than 1%.

Rippling occurs when visible ripples can be seen on the surface of the breast and or can be felt on the surface of the breast. Although the cause of rippling can result from insufficient tissue coverage, which is often due to the surgeon’s choice of implant placement, the other contributing factor is the type of breast implant. Underfilled breast implants, saline breast implants, and textured breast implants can all cause breast implant rippling or implant visibility. The risk of rippling can be reduced by opting for an implant with a smooth surface and is 100% filled.

Implant displacement 

Implant displacement occurs when the implant has moved or displaced from the original position.

 This can include:

– Superiorly: in which the breast implant sits too high.

– Inferiorly: The breast implant sits too low, causing a bulge in the lower pole of the breast or the lower pole to appear disproportionate to the rest of the breast.

– Medially: The breast implant has moved towards the sternum, and both breasts appear joined together.

– Laterally: The breast implant has displaced towards the lateral border of the breast below the armpit.

These complications can be caused by over dissection of the pocket during implant placement, gravity, or the implant size. Breast implants that are too big for the individual anatomy can put strain and pressure on the native tissues of the breast, causing the skin and tissue to become lax and thin resulting in the breast implant displacing. Choosing a well-experienced surgeon in breast surgery and choosing an implant that is in line with your individual anatomy can help reduce this type of complication. However, it is important to note that, without breast implants, the breasts can naturally drop and sag due to aging, weight loss, and gravity. Therefore, when choosing breast implants, many women opt for smaller implants with fat transfer to reduce the risk of the implants dropping.

We know it’s a lot to take in, but an informed choice is always the right one. If you want to get a breast augmentation, the most important part of the process is your research. The more you know about these details, the better decisions you can make that can avoid complications like the ones stated above. Remember: breast safety should be your #1 priority throughout your whole journey!

_{*The content provided herein is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as substitute for a consultation with a physician.}

Sources

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