Breast Augmentation Risks

Nowadays breast augmentation is a routine procedure. However, as with any surgical procedure, some risks and complications cannot be completely ruled out. In general, there are two different types of risk:

  • Risks of complications that occur during breast surgery (intraoperative)
  • Risks of complications that occur after the operation (postoperative)

The postoperative complications are again broken down into early complications, late complications and aesthetic problems.

Intraoperative Risks

The breast augmentation is usually taking general anesthetic carried out, which is why primarily with the usual anesthetic risks must be expected, which the anesthetist will explain in a previous consultation. There one Breast augmentation only for patients with one stable general condition is carried out and the Operation time of the intervention relatively short is, is this Risk of complications very low.
There is always a risk during breast augmentation injuring surrounding structures (e.g. sensitive Nerve fibers). The most common intraoperative risk with breast augmentation is Injury to the chest muscleoccasionally when positioning the Breast implant occurs.

Postoperative early complications

In the early stage The main risk after the operation is a Rebleeding and one Bruising (Hematoma). Furthermore, as after any surgical procedure Wound infections occur. The wound infection can superficial which then turn out to be Redness shows over the wound. In the case of superficial wound infection frequent dressing changes and possibly the gift of one Antibiotic to avoid (prophylaxis) a deep wound infection. In rare cases it can also lead to a deep wound infection With Abscess formation come which possibly a Removal of the implants requires.

Late postoperative complications

The most significant and most common complication one Breast augmentation is the Capsular contracture. Studies have shown that 90% of the capsular contractures within the first year occur after surgery.

In capsular contracture forms of the body as Foreign body reaction regardless of the type of implant one Connective tissue sheath (Capsule) around the inserted implant. This capsule can become hardenwhat turn into a Implant deformation can lead and under certain circumstances a surgical procedure for To solve the capsule or even one distance which makes implants necessary.

Although breast implants nowadays can withstand extreme loads, there is always a certain risk that the implants will through greater external impact (e.g. in a car accident) damaged and require another surgical procedure.

Aesthetic problems

After breast augmentation, there is always the risk of impaired wound healing. Especially in women who have implants that are large in relation to their breast volume, the risk of the suture opening (suture dehiscence) is increased. Despite bandages and pressure bandages, the dehiscence of the seam can leave a noticeable scar. Constant tension or pressure can also cause stretch marks on the chest.

In addition to the risks of breast augmentation, the various forms of dislocation and deformation of the implants must also be mentioned. The breast implants can rotate over time or shift, for example, lengthways or crossways. Implant wrinkles often occur after breast augmentation (Rippling). This means that wrinkling of the breast implants occurs, which is both visible and tactile. The so-called waterfall deformity occurs mainly in patients with sagging skin. The implant is seated correctly, but the tissue moves down over the implant, so that two arches emerge in the profile. The double bubble phenomenon also results in a double contour on the breast after the operation. In contrast to the waterfall deformation, the second arch lies between the nipple and the underbust crease instead of over the nipple.

In addition, the bottom-out is a risk of breast enlargement. The breast implants hang down so that the nipples are raised. This occurs especially in patients with small breast tissue. In general it can be said that these deformities and dislocations of the implants are not dangerous, but they significantly reduce the aesthetic result of the procedure.

Read about this too Adipose tissue necrosis

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  • Breast enlargement risks
  • Breast enlargement implants
  • Breast reduction

An overview of all topics of the gynecology can be found under: Gynecology A-ZGynecology A-Z.