Breast Implants: Q&A

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What Are the Risks of Breast Implants?

Thinking about a breast augmentation...would like some info. about possible risks associated with breast implants and breast implant surgery. Can implants really "poison" you if they leak? Thx

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27 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Most Common Breast Implant Risk is Asymmetry

Thank you for your question. Serious complications following Breast Implants are fortunately very rare. Bleeding and Infection are very serious but occur in less than 2% of cases. Asymmetry between the two breasts after Breast Augmentation is by far the most common risk. This may be due to pre existing asymmetry, uneven placement of Breast Implants or healing problems such as capsular contracture. Surgical Placement problems such as "double bubble" and "snoopy deformity" are... more

Breast implant risks

To answer your question, we need to make a distinction between the implants and the surgical procedure. The implants are made of a silicone shell filled with either saline (salt water) or silicone gel. The safety profiles of the silicone gel implants have been extensively researched and the bottom line is that leakage from the silicone gel may cause local tissue reactions (hardness in the breast, pain, inflammation) they do not cause whole-body or systemic reactions. The bigger question is:... more

David Bogue, MD

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Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Breast enlargement with implants is a very safe procedure but there are real risks.

Augmentation mamoplasty is basically a very safe surgical procedure but there are real risks. As with any surgery there are the minimal risks of either general or sedation anesthesia, bleeding or infection. As to the specific risks of the implants themselves there are numerous but again infrequent. Probably the most common problem is capsular contraction which results in the breast appearing and feeling hard and often high. This is reported in the literature as about 6-8% but with special... more

Breast Implants Risks

The two most common surgery related risks are infection and hematoma which occur in less than 2% of the cases nationwide. Double Bouble, Capsular Contracture, Implants Bottoming Out, and Symmastia (uniboob) are risks related to the surgery but the risks of those tend to be in about 5 - 9% of cases nationwide.

Breast augmentation postoperative risks.

The most frequently encountered postoperative complications of breast augmentation are hematoma (i.e. bleeding into the implant pocket requiring surgical removal), which occur in 1-3% of patients nationwide, and infection of the implant occurring in less than 1% of patients nationwide. Most all patients will experience some temporary change in breast and/or nipple sensation immediately after surgery; 15% of patients may experience permanent increases or decreases in breast sensitivity... more

Risks of breast augmentation

A breast implant has risks, just like any medical procedure does. The main points of discussion include the risk that the implant may rupture, cause capsular contracture or thickening of the tissue around the implant, and that the breast may have asymmetry. Nipple sensation loss is a low risk. There are other less likely risks that would be appropriate to discuss before surgery with your surgeon.

Risks of Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure and therefore there are risks involved. Some of these risks are present for any surgical procedure such as bleeding (hematoma), infection, poor scarring, etc. Bleeding rates specifically related to breast augmentation is ~ 1-2% and infection rates are also ~ 1-2%. Those are the major early risks after surgery. Late risks (>3-6 months) include: 1) Capsular contracture - Formation of a capsule is a normal response... more

Get information about the risks of breast augmentation.

Get information about the risks of breast augmentation from a reputable source. There are hundreds of surgeons on this forum that have websites that should go over the main risks of breast augmentation. Be careful where you get your information. Your question about being "poisoned" if they leak makes me think that you have received incorrect information somewhere. The American Society of Plastic Surgery also has a patient forum which can be helpful... more

Risks of breast augmentation

Breast implants have a long track record of being safe. It is rare but always possible to have a complication. The patient satisfaction rate with implants remains high—at 90 pecent plus. So the bottom line is that there is currently nothing to say that breast implants are not safe. A board certified plastic surgeon will be able to further discuss any questions or concerns you have about implants.

Risks of breast augmentation

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in America because they can provide a consistent way to change the shape and size of your breasts. Like all cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation does have risks. These risks include but are not limited to infection, hematoma, seroma, wound healing difficulties, asymmetry, capsular contracture, and need for additional surgery. To help minimize your risks, it is essential that you work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who... more

The risks of breast implants are modest.

In the short term after their placements, the risk of infection and hematoma (bleeding) exist but extremely uncommon. Infection is <1% and hematoma rate about 2% (and is easily treatable. Long term, 2 significant issues. Capsular contracture (hardening) of the breasts which is not a health problem but compromises the aesthetic result. The incidence is reporter from <1% to 17%. I think the real number is somewhere around 4 to 5% where the... more

Risks of breast implants

Breast implants themselves, either saline or silicone, pose no health risks to your body-even if they rupture. There has been significant research and studies performed on this topic over the last several decades and the FDA has approved both saline and silicone gel implants for cosmetic breast augmentation. The implants do not last a lifetime and you will likely require another surgery in the future. The implants can become infected, which is extremely rare. The... more

Risks of Breast Augmentation Surgery

Every surgical procedure has risks. Even though breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure, it's still surgery, and you should carefully evaluate the risks before you proceed with surgery. Early postoperative risks include: infection (national rate 2%, my rate 0.5%) bleeding (national rate 2%, my rate 0.2%) nipple sensory changes (about 10 to 15%) Late postoperative risks include: Deflation (saline) or rupture (silicone gel). Implant failure is the greatest single risk of surgery, since... more

Risks Associated with Breast Augmentation

As with any type of surgical procedure, certain risks accompany breast augmentation surgery. It is important to know the risks and discuss them with your doctor so you are prepared in the event a complication occurs. Side effects such as tenderness, swelling and bruising are normal, but excessive swelling, reddness, vomiting or fever over 101 degrees is of concern and requires immediate medical attention. These are possible signs of infection. To prevent this from occuring, you're doctor... more

Risks with breast implant surgery

Prudent and thoughtful patients always take the time to understand their surgery and the possible risks and complications. I like to think about risks in two groups. In one group are the risks associated with surgery in general. These include infection, bleeding, risk of blood clot, and possible complications related to anesthesia. Fortunately, in a healthy patient undergoing breast augmentation, the risk of these is low. The second group includes risks/complications/outcomes related... more

Breast implant risks you should be aware of

The most important part of breast augmentation surgery safety is choosing the right plastic surgeon. Still, as with any surgery, there are risks involved (described below). Capsular Contraction- is the most common side effect of breast implants. During surgery, a pocket is created for the implant that is somewhat larger than the implant. A fibrous membrane, called a capsule, then forms around the device. Under ideal circumstances, the pocket maintains its original dimensions and the implant... more

Can Breast Implants poison you if they leak?

Hi there- The short answer is no. Implants used in the US are filled with either saline or silicone- if a saline implant leaks, because saline solution fills our bodies and cells, your body simply absorbs it... with a modern silicone implant, the gel would remain contained by the capsule around the implant initially. Over a long period of time, some of the gel may escape the capsule, but this is thought to be more rare with the newer implant designs. In either case, the silicone is inert,... more

Risks of breast implants

Like any other surgery there are risks. The specific risks of breast implants include: Infection, Bleeding, Hematoma, Capsular contracture, interference in sensation, lactation, and interferance with mammograms. Displacement of implants, too big, too small; In saline implants, rippling, feeling the edge of implant. Both can rupture or leak. There may also be a need for another surgery in the future. Deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary emboli are also possible. A good Board Certified PS can... more

There are risks associated with breast augmentation

Typically, risk are very minimal with this procedure but as with any surgical procedure there can be some risk. The more experienced the surgeon with the procedure the less the chance of complications. We have a standard consent form that will review almost any complication that can happen.

Breast Implant Risks

The risks associated with augmentation are those present with any operation: risk of anesthetic, bleeding, infection, scar formation, and poor wound healing. More specific risks are loss of nipple sensation, implant malposition, implant deflation or leak, and interference with breast cancer detection. As with any surgery, the risks must be weighed with the benefits to determine if the procedure is appropriate for you to undergo.

Breast implant complications

Complications of breast augmentation are infrequent but important ot understand. These include hardening of the scar tissue around the breast implant, and rupture of the breast implant causing the need for replacement. Both silicone and saline breast implants have been extensively studied and neither has been shown to significantly correlate with other illnesses. This has resulted in endorsement of each type of breast implant by the Food and Drug Administration. Silicone gel breast... more

Breast implants are not poisonous or dangerous

There are two types of breast implants currently in the market: saline and silicone. The outer covering of ALL breast implants will eventually fail, causing a break in the implant. If you have chosen saline (salt water) implants, the body will simply absorb the saline, causing a change in the shape and size of the implant. With silicone implants, the exposed silicone gel will not be absorbed and will remain there until removed by surgery. Therefore, some patients may have a failed... more

Breast Implant risks

Breast implants cannot poison you more than can Heart Valves, Pacemakers, Shoulder, Hip or Knee Joints, artificial blood vessels and shunts, Insulin Pumps, etc etc. Breast Implants were MORE extensively studied in our country than any other implant in the history of humanity. This is NOT an exaggeration. They were studied much more than any of the implants above (which should prove to you just how misplaced our priorities really are. Are breast implants rally more important than artificial... more

Breast Implant Safety

Breast implants are very safe medical devices. This has been proven in a plethora of published studies. But remember, no medical devices last forever. Accepting implants accepts some degree of risk that you will need revision surgery due to an implant related problem in the future. So what are the risks: infection, rupture, malposition, scar tissue formation (capsular contracture), and of course, the need for revision surgery. The good news is that over 24 peer reviewed published... more

Risks and Complications of breast augmentation

In case of a malfunction, defect, or rupture there is no risk of being poisoned by the contents of the implant. It is not an emergency to remove the implants if a rupture or leakage has occured. Both saline and silicone gel implants are FDA approved and very safe. Other risks and complications of breast augmentation include infection, bleeding, assymetry, encapsulation, loss of sensation, hypersensitivity, inability to breast feed, interference of mammograms, inability to predict exact cup... more

Breast Implant surgery is safe, but has risks

This is real surgery and should not be taken lightly. Breast augmentation is a safe procedure as evidenced by its nationwide popularity. However, one needs to be very careful when choosing their surgeon. Make sure first of all that you are seeing a board certified plastic surgeon. There are a lot of doctors out there performing breast augmenatation and that is where you can get into serious problems. As with any surgery, there is risk of bleeding and infection, which fortunately are very... more

Breast implant safety

Breast implants do not "poison" a person. There is no increased incidence of collagen vascular disorders with silicone implants as questioned back in the early 90's. Complications can include capsular contracture, implant deflation, infection, fluid collections, hematomas, skin flap loss, unfavorable scarring, and asymmetry to name a few.