Thinking of Getting Breast Augmentation Surgery? Here Are 5 Facts You Should Know First
Millions of women all over the world have already gotten breast implants. But is it the right choice for you?
Before you sign up for breast augmentation surgery, here are five little-known facts you need to know to help you make an informed decision.
Breast implants don’t have an expiration date.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to change your breast implants every ten years.
The truth is, around 90% of women who get breast implants don’t develop problems and complications after a decade. So, there’s no reason to change those implants if there’s no absolute indication for it.
However, it’s recommended that you get an MRI after three years to make sure that your implants are still intact, and every two years after that. They may not have an expiration date, but they’re not meant to last forever, either.
You might need to get additional breast augmentation surgeries.
Once you get breast implants, you should open yourself to the possibility that you might need to get additional breast augmentation surgeries in the future.
As you age, your anatomy changes. Your breast size and shape may change once you have children, making your implants move. In such cases, you need to reposition your implants through another breast augmentation surgery.
Ruptured or leaking implants should be removed and replaced. You might also develop thicker scar tissue around your implants, making revision surgery a necessity.
Larger implants also require revision surgery more often.
You can breastfeed even if you have breast implants.
Just because you have breast implants doesn’t mean that you can no longer breastfeed.
Research shows that breastfeeding with implants is safe for both the mother and the baby. As long as your milk ducts are still intact, you can safely breastfeed your baby.
But keep in mind that breast augmentation involves dissection of breast tissue, so there’s a risk that nipple sensation and breastfeeding will be affected. Make sure that you find a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon so that you can preserve your ability to breastfeed.
You might have limited size options.
Want your breasts to be four cup sizes bigger? Well, it still depends on your anatomy.
Your plastic surgeon will evaluate the size of your ribcage, plus the elasticity and thickness of your skin. The more elastic your skin is, the higher its capacity to accommodate bigger implants without stretch marks.
Instead of telling your surgeon to increase your cup size, better give him a photo that shows your desired breast size. After all, there are no standard cup sizes across all bra manufacturers.
Breast implants don’t increase your cancer risk.
Studies show that the odds of cancer survival are the same among women with and without breast implants.
Also, there isn’t a higher chance of breast cancer among those who get implants. The important thing is to follow breast cancer screening guidelines for prevention and early detection.
