Breast augmentation or enhancement is a popular choice among women who aren’t naturally well-endowed, and for those seeking a more refined and aesthetically appealing look following mastectomy. When pursued purely for cosmetic purposes, these treatments aren’t always well-understood. Moreover, there are a number of unfortunate and widely circulated misconceptions about these procedures. Following are three breast augmentation myths and facts for anyone who’s wondering whether they’re a good candidate for this treatment.
1. All Breast Implants Have to Be Replaced at the 10-Year Mark
As prosthetic devices, breast implants do have a defined lifespan. However, one commonly told myth is that all implants have a very limited lifespan of just 10 years. Evidence of implant degradation include capsular contracture (distortion and resulting discomfort and pain due to an adverse reaction to the implant), leaking, and rupture. When saline implants leak or rupture, their contents are absorbed by the body, and with virtually no ill-effects. Conversely, the rupture of silicone implants may be cause for concern. In these instances, all silicone gel will need to be surgically removed.
The 10-year mark in an implant’s lifespan doesn’t always mean that it’s time to have these devices replaced or removed. With routine follow-up appointments, women can avoid wear-related problems, and establish needs-specific plans for replacement.
2. You Can’t Breastfeed With Breast Implants
Many women seek implants after having and weaning all of their children as part of multi-pronged, mommy makeover procedures. Others opt to undergo breast augmentation long before they’ve had children, and sometimes even before they’re sure whether or not they actually want to. Another common myth about breast implants is that they totally eliminate the option of breastfeeding a newborn child. For women who believe it, getting breast augmentation means having to make a significant sacrifice.
In reality, however, there are countless moms who’ve had their breasts augmented, and who’ve gone on to breastfeed their little ones successfully. Implantation does not breastfeeding inherently unsafe. There are, however, some risks related to breastfeeding that every women should consider if she intends to breastfeed, and has not done so before. Given that augmentation requires incisions, and in some instances, dissection or even excision of existing tissues, there is always the slight risk that nipple sensation and the functionality of breast structures necessary for breastfeeding may be effected. Fortunately, when women know in advance of their breast enhancement procedures that they’d like to breastfeed in the future, there are surgical decisions that can be made that help mitigate these risks. For instance, surgeons can opt to place implants under the muscle rather than under the breast (sub-pectoral vs. sub-glandular augmentation). They can also opt to make incisions for the insertion of implants in the armpit or under the breast fold, rather than at the nipple. Even the size of the selected implants can be chosen to further enhance the viability of the breasts for breastfeeding.
3. The Sky’s the Limit for Implant Sizes
It’s also a myth that women are able to choose any cup size they desire. For a naturally thin, flat-chested patient, one of the primary concerns surrounding larger implant sizes is the elasticity of the skin. It’s additionally advisable for patients to choose implant sizes that represent weights they can comfortably carry and move around with. Although there is certainly flexibility when it comes to choosing an implant size, there are definite limits concerning how large implants for any individual can safely be.
