Factors to consider when deciding on breast augmentation
- No matter what kind of surgery we are talking about (plastic or reconstruction), we should remember that this kind of surgery is not the last. After some time, additional surgical intervention will be required. In addition, you must see a doctor regularly throughout your life.
- Contrary to popular belief, breast implants have an expiration date, so they are not permanently installed. After a period of time, the prosthesis must be removed or replaced with a new one.
- After installing the prosthesis, your breasts will undergo many changes, which are irreversible. If you later decide to give up joint replacement surgery, you will be left with depressions, folds, wrinkles and other cosmetic defects.
Reduced effectiveness of mammography
The endoprosthesis reduces the effectiveness of breast cancer diagnosis. It is necessary to inform the examining doctor about the existence of the prosthesis so that he can use special techniques to minimize the risk of rupture of the prosthesis shell. In addition, additional scans of different projections may be required, which increases the radiation dose received by women. However, early detection of breast cancer justifies the associated risks.
It is recommended to have a mammogram on the eve of surgery and 6-12 months after implantation. The images obtained will make it possible to further monitor changes in the breast.
Self-examination of the breast
After installing the implant, it is necessary to perform an independent examination of the breast once a month. Ask your doctor to explain how to distinguish between prosthesis and breast tissue. If a lump or any suspicious change is found, a biopsy should be performed. When performing this operation, be careful not to damage the implant.
Closed capsulotomy
Closed capsulotomy is not recommended, that is, squeezing the fibrous tissue formed around the implant to rupture the capsule because it will damage the prosthesis itself.
Complications related to implantation
Any type of surgery has the risk of complications, such as the effects of anesthesia, infection, swelling, redness, bleeding, and pain. At the same time, additional complications may occur during the implantation process.
Prosthesis collapse/rupture
If the integrity of the shell is compromised, the prosthesis may collapse. It can be instantaneous or progressive. From the outside, it looks like the size or shape of the breast has changed. The collapse of the prosthesis may occur in the first few months after the operation, or it may occur a few years later. The reasons may be damage to the prosthesis caused by surgical instruments during the operation, capsular contracture, closed capsulotomy, external pressure (for example, trauma or severe chest compression, excessive compression during mammography), umbilical cord incision, And for unknown/unexplainable reasons.
It should be remembered that the prosthesis will wear out over time, which may cause it to rupture/collapse. Additional surgery is required to remove the dormant prosthesis and install a new prosthesis.
Capsular contracture
The scar tissue or capsule that forms around the implant and compresses it is called capsule contracture. In most cases, the onset of capsular contracture precedes infection, hematoma, and seroma. When the prosthesis is placed under the pancreas, it is easier to observe the capsular contracture. Typical symptoms are breast thickening and discomfort, pain, changes in breast shape, protruding and/or shifting implants.
In the case of excessive compaction and/or severe pain, it is necessary to surgically remove the envelope tissue or the implant itself, and possibly replace it with a new one. However, this does not eliminate the risk of recurrence of capsular contracture.
pain
After breast implants are implanted, pain of varying intensity and duration may occur. This pain is caused by nerve compression or difficulty in muscle contraction, which may be caused by improper prosthesis size, improper placement, surgical error, and capsular contracture. If severe pain occurs, please notify the attending doctor.
Additional surgical intervention
After some time, surgical intervention may be required to replace or remove the prosthesis. In addition, when the prosthesis collapses, capsular contracture, infection, prosthesis displacement, and calcium deposits appear, surgical removal of the prosthesis may be required. Most women will install a new prosthesis after removing the old prosthesis. Women who decide to abandon a new prosthesis should be prepared for the fact that they will experience depressions and/or wrinkles and other cosmetic defects.
Not satisfied with the beauty effect
The cosmetic effect of surgery may not always satisfy the patient. Possible wrinkles, asymmetry, implant displacement, incorrect size, unwanted shape, accessibility of the implant, roughness (irregular shape, raised), and/or seams that are too large or too wide.
By carefully planning operations and choosing the right technology, the possibility of these defects can be reduced. However, even in this case, this possibility cannot be completely ruled out.
Infect
Any surgical intervention is related to the risk of infection. In most cases, the infection will occur within a few days or weeks after the operation. If the infection cannot be controlled with antibiotics and the presence of the implant makes treatment difficult, the prosthesis may need to be removed. New implants can only be installed after recovery.
In rare cases, toxic shock syndrome may occur after breast implant implantation, which may be life-threatening. Symptoms include a sudden increase in body temperature, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and/or skin rash. If these symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor immediately and start treatment.
Hematoma/seroma
Hematoma is the accumulation of blood (in this case, around the implant or incision), while seroma is the accumulation of serous fluid, which is the water-containing component of blood. Postoperative hematoma and seroma can cause infection and/or capsular contracture, accompanied by swelling, pain, and bruising. The formation of hematoma is most likely to occur in the postoperative period. However, it can appear at any other time and is accompanied by chest bruises. Usually, small hematomas and seromas will go away on their own. Large bruises or seromas may require drainage. In some cases, a small scar will be left after the drainage tube is removed. When inserting the drainage tube, it is important not to damage the implant, otherwise it will cause the prosthesis to collapse/rupture.
Sensory changes in the nipple and breast area
After implantation of the prosthesis, the sensitivity of the nipple and breast area may change. The changes vary widely-from significant sensitivity to no feeling at all. These changes may be temporary and irreversible, affecting sexual sensitivity or breastfeeding ability.
breast-feeding
So far, no data is available to confirm that a small amount of silicone has spread from the prosthesis shell to the surrounding tissues and enters breast milk. I don't know what effect silicones will have on babies if they are taken with breast milk. There is currently no way to quantify the silicon content in breast milk. However, a study comparing the levels of silicone in breast milk of women with and without prostheses showed that the proportion of women with saline implants was similar to that of women with gel prostheses.
Regarding breastfeeding ability, according to the survey, among women with implants, the proportion of women unable to breastfeed is 64%, and among women without implants, the proportion is 7%. When implanting the prosthesis through the areola incision, the ability to breastfeed is significantly reduced.
Calcium deposits in the tissue surrounding the implant
In mammograms, calcium deposits may be mistaken for malignant tumors. In order to distinguish them from cancerous growths, biopsy and/or surgical removal of the implant may be required in some cases.
Delayed wound healing
In some cases, the incision may take a long time to heal.
Refusal of prostheses
Insufficient thickness of the skin flap covering the prosthesis and/or excessive wound healing time will cause the prosthesis to be rejected and will show clearly through the skin.
Necrosis
Necrosis or tissue death around the prosthesis can permanently deform the scar tissue and prevent the wound from healing. In this case, surgical correction and/or removal of the prosthesis is necessary. Usually, necrosis is preceded by infection, steroid cleaning of surgical bags, smoking, chemotherapy/radiotherapy, and intense heat and cold therapy.
Breast tissue atrophy/chest wall deformity
The pressure exerted by the prosthesis on the breast tissue will thin and wrinkle. This situation may occur on the implanted prosthesis, or it may occur after being removed without replacement.
Other complications
Connective tissue disease
After these diseases were reported in a small number of women with breast implants, people began to worry about the relationship between the placement of breast implants and the occurrence of autoimmune or connective tissue diseases (such as lupus, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis). Relationship. However, the results of some large epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of such diseases in the two groups of women is about the same. These studies have examined women with prostheses and women who have never had breast surgery. Nevertheless, many women believe that the prosthesis caused their disease. According to published data, joint replacement surgery does not increase the risk of breast cancer.