Risks of Breast Augmentation Procedure

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 13, 2008 – Breast Augmentation
Risks and Complications
Risks and complications associated with breast augmentation are rare. We do not mention these risks to frighten you, but rather to inform you and educate you so that you can make an intelligent choice. Please be certain to understand the associated risks of all cosmetic surgery.
Bleeding - The development of a post-operative hematoma or bleeding is unusual. This occurs when there is bleeding into the pocket where the implants were inserted. This risk of this complication is less than 1 %. If the bleeding and subsequent blood collection is severe it may require a reoperation.
Infection- Antibiotics are prescribed to reduce the possibility of infection however a risk of infection always exists with surgery. If the pocket surrounding the implant becomes infected, then the implant must be removed. Once the infection has been cleared the implant can be replaced. This could take up to three months before the second operation could be possible. The risk of infection has been reported to be less than 1%.
Capsular contracture - A capsular contracture is a problem that is associated with the use of implants. Most people have heard of a breast implants getting hard. Well it is not the implant that gets hard it is you who gets hard around the implant. The capsule that surrounds the implant is the body's normal reaction to a foreign substance. Our body does not recognize silicone as either a part of the body or as a harmful foreign body. It just does not know what it is so it does the next best thing which is to wall it off. This wall is formed from fibrous tissue and as long as the fibrous tissue remains soft the breast will remain soft. If it tightens around the implant then it can distort the breast and detract from the result. There are several things that have been done to reduce this risk. When a smooth walled implant is placed in front of the muscle the risk of developing a capsular contracture is reported to be as high as 30%. When this same implant is place behind the chest wall muscle (pectorals major) the capsular contracture rate decreases to 4 - 7%. The texturing of the outer surface of the implant has also helped to decrease the risk of capsular contracture down to 4 - 7%. If this excessive firmness occurs, it may require opening of the incision and removal of the capsule. No one really understands why some women develop this problem and others do not. There are several factors that are felt to be responsible these include a postoperative infection and a hematoma. Recently a report in the Plastic Surgery Literature has reported a capsular contracture rate of .4%. This was accomplished by using very strict care when handling the implants. The implants are not allowed to touch the surgical drapes, skin or otherwise develop a surface contamination. This is called the no touch technique and it employed by our plastic surgeons.
Implant rupture - The actual failure of an implant due to rupture or leakage is rare. This problems has been reported to occur less that 1% of the time. The newer styled implants are designed to withstand tremendous forces and are not affected by a person’s usual activities no matter how vigorous. A direct blow to the chest in an automobile accident could exert enough force to rupture an implant. There can be leakage of the saline around the valve or the development of small holes in the implant shell. When the saline filled implant leaks there is no associated health risk. This saline is the same type that would be given as intravenous fluid. It is readily absorbed into the body. With the saline filled implants there is the possibility of developing a fold flaw defect. This occurs when a wrinkle develops in the implant. over a period a time months to years, the motion of the body causes the edges of a wrinkle to rub together. This could eventually lead to a small pin hole leak.
Numbness - Loss of sensation to the nipple area is a rare problem. The nerve that supplies the nipple comes from just under the fourth rib and extends over the outer portion of the breast. Since the implant stretches the nerve it is possible to have either a decrease or increase in sensitivity in the nipple area. These problems are usually temporary and will subside over the first few weeks. In very rare circumstances it can be permanent.
Immune System Diseases and Unknown Disorders Some women with breast implants have reported symptoms similar to those of known diseases of the immune system, such as systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and other arthritis-like conditions. These symptoms include joint pain or swelling, fever, fatigue, thyroid problems, breast pain and musculoskeletal pain. A connection between implanted silicone and connective-tissue disorders has been reported in the medical literature. To date, there is no scientific evidence that women with either silicone gel filled or saline filled implants have an increased risk of diseases but the possibility cannot be excluded. If a causal relationship is established, the theoretical risk of immune and unknown disorders may be low. The effects of breast implants in individuals with pre-existing connective-tissue diseases is unknown. Unlike silicone gel-implants, the saline-filled implants contain only salt water. Any risk related to silicone gel would not be associated with the saline-filled implants. However, gel-filled and saline filled devices have a silicone rubber envelope. An increased risk of autoimmune disease is possible even from saline-filled implants. Reliable medical laboratory tests to determine antibodies to silicone do not exist. It has not been proven that there is a relationship between silicone antibodies and disease in women with breast implants. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to state that there is a health benefit from removing breast implants and scar-tissue capsules and that their removal will alter autoimmune disease or prevent its potential occurrence. In a very few women who have breast implants, a variety of other symptoms and conditions have been reported, suggestive of an auto-immune multiple sclerosis like syndrome. Additional complaints involve the musculoskeletal, skin, nervous, and immune systems. The relationship of breast implants to these conditions has been hypothesized, although not scientifically proven. Because such disease states are rare, they are difficult to research. There is the possibility of as of yet unknown risks associated with silicone breast implants. If you have any further concerns about this subject be certain to discuss this with your plastic surgeon at the time of your consultation.