Friday, December 2, 2011

Breast Augmentation - What Can Go Wrong?

Cosmetic Surgery Gone Wrong

Breast augmentation is major surgery and with it comes possible complications. There are the normal risks of surgery, but there are specific complications that can occur with implants. If you have chosen an experienced plastic surgeon, the risk is reduced but still a possibility.

Cosmetic Surgery Gone Wrong

Even taking all the necessary precautions, complications can still occur and it is important to know what could happen. Here are some of the more common complications that can occur:

Cosmetic Surgery Gone Wrong

Asymmetry-Because saline implants are filled after they are put in, there is a chance that one side may have more volume than the other. Placement can also give you a lopsided look. Revision is the only way to correct this.

Cosmetic Surgery Gone Wrong

Wrong size-You may discover after all the swelling has gone down that your implants are either too big or too small. If you got saline, this is an easy fix. The surgeon can simply make a small incision and add more solution. If you have silicone, they have to be replaced.

Silent rupture-This is a leak that occurs with silicone implants. The solution slowly leaks as opposed to saline which quickly deflates. This is why your surgeon wants you to return for maintenance and receive MRIs after breast augmentation with silicone. That's the only way to catch the silent rupture.

Capsular Contraction-If a silent rupture does occur, scar tissue may form around the implant. This can be quite painful and is indicated by a hardening of the breast.

Numbness-There is a risk of nerve damage particularly around the nipple after a breast augmentation procedure. Sometimes the feeling will come back, but in some cases it is permanent.

Scarring-The incision is made under the breast and as close to the nipple as possible. This is how the surgeon minimizes the visibility of the scars. Of course, there is always a possibility of forming more visible keloid scars if the incision doesn't heal properly.

Infection-This is a complication that can occur with any surgical procedure. It is very important to keep the incision site clean to avoid infection.

Revision-If there are any complications that can be corrected, revision surgery is necessary. The surgeon should be able to use the same incision site, but it will require a whole new procedure.

Reaction to anesthesia-This is another risk that goes along with any type of surgery. It is imperative that you give your breast augmentation surgeon a complete history of your health conditions and medications.

To reduce the chance of any of these complications, you should start with the right plastic surgeon. Verify his credentials and make sure he is board certified as a plastic surgeon. Go into the procedure with realistic expectations and follow his post-operative instructions to the letter. Do this and you should have great results from your breast augmentation.

Breast Augmentation - What Can Go Wrong?

Cosmetic Surgery Gone Wrong

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