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Why I decided not to get breast implants (even though I really, really wanted them)
1. They are not permanent. If you are thinking of having a breast augmentation (BA), the first place you should look is the RealSelf forums for women who are getting their implants removed (http://www.realself.com/reviews/breast-implant-removal). Too much emphasis in the plastic surgery industry is placed on the “new and shiny” phase of having a BA – the excitement of a sudden change, the instant relief from insecurities about your natural breasts, and the thrill of having new curves. But the heart of the matter is what will happen to your implants 10-20 years down the road, when they start to cause you physical problems or when they simply cease to fit your lifestyle and/or body aesthetic. Some of the common reasons women on these forums cite for removing their breast implants:
a. Getting into running or fitness at a later age and the implants can’t keep up with all the activity, or make them feel silly at the gym.
b. Fake boobs start to droop and look matronly on a 50-70 year old woman.
c. Gradual or sudden onset of unexplainable health ailments, like thyroid problems, fatigue, a burning sensation in the chest, weight gain that is difficult to control, or feeling mentally “foggy.”
d. Implants have ruptured due to old age.
e. Having any of these issues and not wanting to commit to a new pair of implants, which will result in having to make the decision about whether to keep them all over again in 10-20 years.
2. The jury is out on how safe they are. And yes, I know this is a controversial topic. Any plastic surgeon will feed you the official FDA line about there being no connection between silicone and auto-immune issues, or really any health issues at all. But common sense has to tell you that surgically inserting foreign objects like breast implants into your body is, at the very least, not what your body wants. Case-in-point: your body forms protective shells around the implants in order to keep them separate from your natural tissues. That means your immune system recognizes implants as foreign objects that shouldn’t be in your body. That’s just kind of creepy to me.
3. On a related note, silicone. Even saline-filled implants have silicone shells, and there are more and more patients (and doctors!) going public about the ills suffered by bad reactions to silicone in the body – in breast implants or other medical devices (http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Truth-About-Breast-Implants/dp/1935079298). I found it disheartening and frankly alarming that the plastic surgeons I met with were so dismissive of this issue. But then again, how can you trust that they will give you such scary information when they are trying to sell you on plastic surgery? It’s what they do for a living. It’s not in their interest to give you a realistic picture of the potential risks beyond what is absolutely necessary.
4. Breast implants are a commitment. Much like the tattoos I got when I was 18 and now regret, breast implants are difficult to get rid of. If I decide in 15 years that they’re not for me, I have to have them taken out (surgically) and then wait for my natural tissue to shrink back to some distorted version of its previous state (and I’ll still have scars). Even if I loved the breast implants at age 45 and wanted to keep them, I would have to keep getting them redone every 10-20 years. Would I want to have to make that decision when I’m 65? How about 80? And who says I’ll have the money to keep this surgery merry-go-round running? I don’t want to have my body cut open unless it’s absolutely necessary. My health is too precious to risk on vanity. And anyway...
5. They’re passe. Something like 300,000 women in the US alone had BA’s in 2013. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery estimates that now 4% of American women have implants – that’s 1 in every 26 women! History shows us that every trend reverses eventually, and breast implants have been popular for a good 20 years now. Anyone can be fake. Any reality-show actress or Instagram model can rock breast implants, but no one can else can have my natural breasts! I know it sounds corny. But instead of looking to an external device to change the way I feel about my body, I’m choosing to accept it for the way nature made it. And I’m starting to realize that there are more important things in life than the way my boobs look anyway.
a. Getting into running or fitness at a later age and the implants can’t keep up with all the activity, or make them feel silly at the gym.
b. Fake boobs start to droop and look matronly on a 50-70 year old woman.
c. Gradual or sudden onset of unexplainable health ailments, like thyroid problems, fatigue, a burning sensation in the chest, weight gain that is difficult to control, or feeling mentally “foggy.”
d. Implants have ruptured due to old age.
e. Having any of these issues and not wanting to commit to a new pair of implants, which will result in having to make the decision about whether to keep them all over again in 10-20 years.
2. The jury is out on how safe they are. And yes, I know this is a controversial topic. Any plastic surgeon will feed you the official FDA line about there being no connection between silicone and auto-immune issues, or really any health issues at all. But common sense has to tell you that surgically inserting foreign objects like breast implants into your body is, at the very least, not what your body wants. Case-in-point: your body forms protective shells around the implants in order to keep them separate from your natural tissues. That means your immune system recognizes implants as foreign objects that shouldn’t be in your body. That’s just kind of creepy to me.
3. On a related note, silicone. Even saline-filled implants have silicone shells, and there are more and more patients (and doctors!) going public about the ills suffered by bad reactions to silicone in the body – in breast implants or other medical devices (http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Truth-About-Breast-Implants/dp/1935079298). I found it disheartening and frankly alarming that the plastic surgeons I met with were so dismissive of this issue. But then again, how can you trust that they will give you such scary information when they are trying to sell you on plastic surgery? It’s what they do for a living. It’s not in their interest to give you a realistic picture of the potential risks beyond what is absolutely necessary.
4. Breast implants are a commitment. Much like the tattoos I got when I was 18 and now regret, breast implants are difficult to get rid of. If I decide in 15 years that they’re not for me, I have to have them taken out (surgically) and then wait for my natural tissue to shrink back to some distorted version of its previous state (and I’ll still have scars). Even if I loved the breast implants at age 45 and wanted to keep them, I would have to keep getting them redone every 10-20 years. Would I want to have to make that decision when I’m 65? How about 80? And who says I’ll have the money to keep this surgery merry-go-round running? I don’t want to have my body cut open unless it’s absolutely necessary. My health is too precious to risk on vanity. And anyway...
5. They’re passe. Something like 300,000 women in the US alone had BA’s in 2013. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery estimates that now 4% of American women have implants – that’s 1 in every 26 women! History shows us that every trend reverses eventually, and breast implants have been popular for a good 20 years now. Anyone can be fake. Any reality-show actress or Instagram model can rock breast implants, but no one can else can have my natural breasts! I know it sounds corny. But instead of looking to an external device to change the way I feel about my body, I’m choosing to accept it for the way nature made it. And I’m starting to realize that there are more important things in life than the way my boobs look anyway.
More details
I thought I would add a few more details and profile some of my misgivings about the surgery, which have been holding me back from getting implants for years. Hopefully this forum can serve as a place for me to lay some of my fears about this procedure to rest!
I also uploaded a few pictures of my natural breasts as a starting point, and a few pictures of my "wish boobs."
I forgot to mention in the above post that the implants will be placed below the muscle, although that is kind of a given based on my (lack of) breast tissue.
So, although I am about 98.5% committed to this surgery in my mind, I do have fears. Here they are, listed in no particular order:
1. That my implants will look bad and I will miss my small natural boobs, and can never have them back (because even if they are explanted, the skin/tissue will never look the same as they did pre-op).
2. That the implants will be too narrow or too wide for my body, or that my nipples will stick straight out like headlights. It's hard to know exactly how they will turn out without first having them put into you.
3. That having implants will be totally obvious and will make me look over-sexualized in small tank tops, summer dresses, etc.
4. What will my family think?!
5. That the implants will activate some dormant autoimmune disease in my body and my health will be ruined.
6. That I am committing to (at least) a $7500 surgery every ~10 years for the rest of my life. What if I can't afford to replace them down the road?
7. Insurance. What if no one wants to insure me because of my fake breasts?
8. Breast feeding. I know everyone says that there will be no problem (esp. with the transaux incision). But still.
9. Having foreign objects in my body. What if I never feel like the same 'whole' person that I am now?
I feel it's important to express these doubts, because reading about the thought processes of other women on this website has helped me immensely with this decision. Please feel free to comment and address any of the above issues you have dealt with/are dealing with/want to talk about!
I also uploaded a few pictures of my natural breasts as a starting point, and a few pictures of my "wish boobs."
I forgot to mention in the above post that the implants will be placed below the muscle, although that is kind of a given based on my (lack of) breast tissue.
So, although I am about 98.5% committed to this surgery in my mind, I do have fears. Here they are, listed in no particular order:
1. That my implants will look bad and I will miss my small natural boobs, and can never have them back (because even if they are explanted, the skin/tissue will never look the same as they did pre-op).
2. That the implants will be too narrow or too wide for my body, or that my nipples will stick straight out like headlights. It's hard to know exactly how they will turn out without first having them put into you.
3. That having implants will be totally obvious and will make me look over-sexualized in small tank tops, summer dresses, etc.
4. What will my family think?!
5. That the implants will activate some dormant autoimmune disease in my body and my health will be ruined.
6. That I am committing to (at least) a $7500 surgery every ~10 years for the rest of my life. What if I can't afford to replace them down the road?
7. Insurance. What if no one wants to insure me because of my fake breasts?
8. Breast feeding. I know everyone says that there will be no problem (esp. with the transaux incision). But still.
9. Having foreign objects in my body. What if I never feel like the same 'whole' person that I am now?
I feel it's important to express these doubts, because reading about the thought processes of other women on this website has helped me immensely with this decision. Please feel free to comment and address any of the above issues you have dealt with/are dealing with/want to talk about!
I am 29, 5'6", 125 lbs, with a slender athletic...
I am 29, 5'6", 125 lbs, with a slender athletic build and small natural breasts (barely a 32A). No children.
I have consulted with 10 surgeons in the Philadelphia area over the past two months and have finally made a decision to have the breast augmentation I've wanted since puberty! I've scheduled for February because I have a week long break from school at that time.
I was very adamant about finding a doctor who was experienced with transauxillary incisions. Dr. Brenman and I agreed upon Allergan Naturelle silicone implants, style 10 (moderate profile) at 330 ccs. This implant has a base width of 13 cm (my natural breasts are about 11.5 cm wide).
I have consulted with 10 surgeons in the Philadelphia area over the past two months and have finally made a decision to have the breast augmentation I've wanted since puberty! I've scheduled for February because I have a week long break from school at that time.
I was very adamant about finding a doctor who was experienced with transauxillary incisions. Dr. Brenman and I agreed upon Allergan Naturelle silicone implants, style 10 (moderate profile) at 330 ccs. This implant has a base width of 13 cm (my natural breasts are about 11.5 cm wide).
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