Breast Augmentation (cont.)
What are risks and complications of breast augmentation?
1. Infection
Although
infection is rare (1-3%) it can be a very distressing problem. Signs of
infection are fever, redness, swelling, and
discomfort. If the infection does not respond rapidly to antibiotic
treatment, the implant must be removed and the implant can be
replaced three (3) months after the wound is completely healed.
2. Bleeding
If bleeding occurs into the implant pocket after
surgery, the implant must be surgically removed, the bleeding
controlled, the wound washed out, and the implant replaced. Signs
of bleeding include marked swelling, increasing pain, and
bruising.
3. Capsule contracture
Hardening of the breast with distortion and sometime
pain may require surgical incision of the fibrous scar capsule
around the implant (capsulotomy) or partial or total removal of
the scar capsule (capsulectomy). The implant can be immediately
placed back in the new packet. About 30-35% of patients have recurrent
capsule contracture.
Other means of treating the contracture is replacement of a smooth
implant with a textured one or placing the implant in a new pocket
either under the breast or under the muscle.
If capsule contracture occurs multiple times, the patient may
decide to remove the implants permanently.
4. Asymmetry
Sometimes the implant will slip out of the position
in which it was initially placed and appear too high, too low,
or to one side. Most of the time this requires surgical repair.
5. Problems with Mammography
The implant will block some areas of the breast from
being visualized on mammography. This is usually less if the implant
is placed under the muscle.
Because
breast implants might affect the clarity of the mammogram, patients who have
multiple close family members with breast cancer
probably should not have breast implants.
6. Autoimmune Disease
With all the confusion in the newspaper, magazines
and on the T.V. or radio, there has been a fear that silicone
implants may cause autoimmune disease. At this time there is no
scientific evidence that silicone causes autoimmune disease.
7. Cancer
There is no evidence that silicone implants cause
cancer.
8. Calcifications
Implants that have been in a patient for many years
may cause calcifications in the scar capsule around the implant.
These calcifications can almost always be distinguished from the
calcifications which may indicate breast cancer.
9. Deflation
An implant may leak from weakness in the patch or
valve area, a hole from incomplete inflation, or other factors.
The more modern saline implants have been estimated to leak in
1-5% of cases.
Next: How long do implants last? »
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