Breast enlargement is one of the most popular procedures, and usually, it’s carried out through the insertion of silicone or saline implants. If you’ve decided to get the surgery yourself, you might’ve come across some myths about breast implants.
Before getting a breast augmentation surgery, it is important that you discuss the different side effects and complications of the procedure with your surgeon. This will help clarify some of the myths that you’ve heard about implants, and you’ll be able to make an informed decision for yourself.
What Are The Different Myths About Breast Implants?
You might’ve heard one or more of the following myths about breast implants:
Myth #1: Your Breast Implants Look Fake
After deciding to get breast augmentation surgery, you also need to choose an implant. There’s a wide range of implants to choose from as they vary depending on their:
- shape (round or teardrop)
- profile (low, moderate, and high)
- filling (silicone or saline)
- texture (smooth or textured)
- size (starting from 100CCs)
All these factors can determine how natural an implant looks on you. If you have a petite frame, having implants that are too large in size will look fake. To choose the right size that looks natural, you should make sure to consult your surgeon.
However, other than choosing the right implant, it’s also important that you choose the right surgeon. The type of incision and the placement of the implant are determined according to the anatomy of the patient’s breasts.
A qualified and licensed surgeon will have the required knowledge to perform the surgery successfully, giving you natural-looking results. Therefore it’s just a myth about breast implants that they look fake.
Myth #2: You Can’t Breastfeed With Implants
A breast implant is placed underneath the breast tissue, either above or below the pectoralis muscle. It is the breast tissue where the milk ducts are present. Since the placement of the implants does not interfere with the mammary glands, getting implants will not affect your ability to breastfeed.
Also, while some types of incisions are made around the nipples, the surgeon is careful not to cut into the breast tissue. Therefore, you can breastfeed after getting implants. The milk supply also remains unaffected.
However, to make sure that you’re able to breastfeed normally after giving birth, surgeons will recommend delaying the surgery for at least 3-6 after breastfeeding. This is also advised because the size of the breast will change during this time. Once you’re not breastfeeding anymore, you can get the surgery, and your incisions will be able to heal normally.
Also, after getting silicone implants, some women worry that silicone from the implants will contaminate breast milk. However, one study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed that the levels of silicone in the breast milk of a woman with implants were similar to that of a woman without implants.
Researchers also analysed cow’s milk and infant formula and found that the silicone levels were comparatively 10 times higher in the former and even higher in formula milk.
Myth #3: Your Breasts Will Be Lifted With Implants
Before getting any kind of cosmetic breast surgery, you should discuss your needs and expectations with the surgeon. It is quite possible that you might have expectations that cannot be fulfilled by the treatment that you’re seeking.
If you want to increase the volume of your breasts and lift them, then you need to undergo two separate procedures: breast augmentation and breast lift. Augmentation involves the insertion of implants. However, it will not get rid of excess skin that’s causing sagginess. Therefore, keep this in mind before you decide on surgery. It’s a good idea to take a look at the before and after pictures of patients who have either had one or both of the procedures.
Myth #4: You Will Have To Get The Implants Replaced Quite Often
Usually, breast implants last anywhere between 10-20 years, so it’s one of the myths about breast implants that you need to get them replaced every few years. You can even enjoy results for a lifetime if there have been no weight or hormonal fluctuations.
Implants need to be replaced or removed if you have developed a health complication or if they’ve ruptured. However, in other cases, the implants should stay with you for a long time to come.
Myth #5: Breast Implants Aren’t Safe
According to Mayo Clinic, both saline and silicone implants are considered safe for enlargement and reconstruction surgery (rebuilding the breasts after a mastectomy). American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports that although silicone implants have received a lot of “negative media attention,” clinical research with long-term follow-up directed by the FDA has shown no link between silicone implants and chronic autoimmune diseases. ASPS also explains that there has been a potential association between textured implants and a very rare medical condition BIA-ALCL. It is highly treatable.
Rupturing of the implant is another common safety concern among patients. Mayo Clinic reports that, in the case of saline implants, the fluid is absorbed by the body, so there are no “health risks,” but the shell will have to be removed through surgery. If it’s a silicone implant, according to Mayo Clinic, they “aren’t thought to cause breast cancer, reproductive problems or connective tissue disease.” Also, the FDA recommends routine screening after 5-6 years and then after 2-3 years to make sure that the implants haven’t ruptured.
Myth #6: Breast Surgery Will Leave Visible Scars
Breast augmentation involves making incisions so that the implant can be inserted into the body. Therefore, because of the very nature of the surgery, you will have scars. However, these fade with time and become less noticeable. As mentioned above, there are different types of incisions (around the nipples or underneath the curve of the breast). And their placement is usually so that they remain hidden under clothing.
It’s also important that you follow the aftercare instructions of the surgeon to allow the wounds to heal normally and avoid bad scarring. For that, you may be asked to avoid smoking, eat healthy foods, and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. It can take more than a year for the scars to become less noticeable, but you’ll eventually be able to enjoy your results.
Myth #7: Implants Give Immediate Results
Another one of the myths about breast implants is that they give immediate results. While it’s true that you’ll notice a change in the volume of your breasts immediately, keep in mind that the surgery will cause swelling.
So, you won’t be able to determine your new bra size immediately after the surgery. It can take at least 6 months for swelling to go down after breast augmentation surgery. That is when you can expect to see the final results of the procedure.
Myth #8: Implants Result in Permanent Loss of Sensation
You may feel less sensation in your breasts after breast augmentation. However, this problem is only temporary and happens because of swelling. Once the swelling goes down, you should regain the sensation in your breasts. Therefore, it’s only just one of the many myths about breast implants that you shouldn’t worry about.
Myth #9: Older Young People Can Get Implants
One of the many myths about breast implants is that only young people can get them. Thе good nеwѕ about brеаѕt аugmеntаtiоn surgery is that it hаѕ no ѕресifiс age limit. While brеаѕt аugmеntаtiоn iѕ an invаѕivе ѕurgеrу, it’s a рrосеdurе thаt’ѕ bееn реrfоrmеd fоr decades, аnd the bеѕt surgeons hаvе extensive еxреriеnсе with brеаѕt ѕurgеrу.
As ѕuсh, a person’s hеаlth rаthеr thаn thеir аgе is a bеttеr indiсаtоr оf whеthеr thеу can undеrgо thе рrосеdurе. In оrdеr tо make a good саndidаtе fоr brеаѕt augmentation surgery аѕ a 50-рluѕ woman, уоu’ll nееd to meet thе following сritеriа:
- Yоu will hаvе to bе in gооd overall hеаlth.
- Before hаving ѕurgеrу, you’ll nееd tо bе within 30 роundѕ оf your idеаl weight.
- Smоking сеѕѕаtiоn рriоr to surgery iѕ еxtrеmеlу important fоr раtiеntѕ.
Tоbассо smoke limits thе bоdу’ѕ ѕuррlу оf oxygen, ѕuррrеѕѕing itѕ ability tо regenerate injured tiѕѕuе. Bесаuѕе people over 50 already tend tо hеаl ѕlоwеr thаn younger реорlе the аddеd hindrance сrеаtеd bу ѕmоking can significantly increase the risk оf соmрliсаtiоnѕ. Therefore, you should stop smoking prior to your breast surgery.
Bеfоrе booking a consultation, уоu’ll need tо hаvе a соmрlеtе mеdiсаl exam in оrdеr tо rulе оut соmmоn аgе-rеlаtеd соnditiоnѕ likе саrdiоvаѕсulаr diѕеаѕе аnd type 2 diаbеtеѕ. Yоu ѕhоuld аlѕо tаlk tо уоur doctor аbоut any mеdiсаtiоnѕ you are taking in оrdеr tо mаkе ѕurе they wоn’t interfere with уоur ѕurgеrу.
Cоnсluѕiоn
If you аrе thinking аbоut gеtting brеаѕt аugmеntаtiоn surgery done, thеrе are numbеr of imроrtаnt соnѕidеrаtiоnѕ аnd dесiѕiоnѕ thаt muѕt bе mаdе. This includes tесhniсаl, medical and futurе соnѕidеrаtiоnѕ.
However, these myths are not taken into consideration while making a decision. Decisions about your breast implants surgery are made by bоth уоu and уоur ѕurgеоn аftеr саrеful соnѕidеrаtiоn аnd diѕсuѕѕiоn. If you hear any myths about breast implants, make sure to clarify them with your surgeon.
