Serious Risks Involved with Breast Implants


Cosmetic Surgery Enquiry

A very important part of your pre-surgery consultation is the explanation of the related and relevant risks associated with breast implants. Your surgeon should go into detail about all the possible complications so that you are fully aware of what you are committing yourself to. The risks that are described will be related specifically to the type of implant used, where the implant is positioned, the location of the incision and your lifestyle. The probability of complications happening are very low as this type of surgery is very well practised and is known to be safe, however you should still consider the risks.

Below are a number of aspects relating to the more long-term potential issues you may experience following a breast implant procedure. If any of these concern you, then you should bring it up in your consultation.

Breast Feeding

A question that many women have when thinking about breast implants is whether or not they can still breast feed afterwards. Well for the majority of women, the answer is yes. However, it has been reported in some cases that the breast implant interrupts the connections of the nerves and/or milk ducts, which subsequently makes the breast-feeding process difficult or even impossible.

If you feel that there is a strong possibility that you will want to breast feed any infants in the future, after your surgery, you should discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation. They can then take this into account when deciding exactly where your incision should be created as well as where the actual breast implant is positioned. The results of which can ensure that there is the best chances of you being capable of subsequent breastfeeding.

If your surgeon cuts around your nipple to create the area of implant insertion, then it may damage and therefore disrupt your milk ducts, which can either obstruct the flow of milk partially or completely. Whereas, if the breast implant is positioned underneath the chest muscle, the risk of your milk ducts being affected is minimised; therefore, this is a good option if you plan to breast feed in the future.

Mammography

Every year, women should undergo a mammography as part of a breast cancer exam. This is a visual screening process that is very efficient in detecting the presence of tumours that have formed in the breast before they become very serious, malignant and difficult to treat. The issue with breast implants in regards to mammography is that the actual implant (whether silicone or saline) can interrupt the scan and the resulting image may not be very clear.

If you have breast implants and are due for a breast cancer screening, then it is vital that you inform the staff at the clinic. This is important so that the staff can create the time to provide you with an additional type of screening, known as 'Eklund Displacement Views'. This can help create a better picture of your breast and will lower the risk of missing any tumours that are present and in need of a biopsy and/or anti-cancer treatment.

If this sounds like slightly too much hassle, then you may wish to ask your surgeon if they are able to refer you to specialised clinic that is able to efficiently screen women who have got breast implants.

Another reason that you should inform the technician of your breast implants before your mammogram is taken is that the scan has been associated with the rupturing of breast implants. This is quite rare, however it is best to raise their awareness of this potential problem just in case.

Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Recently, connections have been made between breast implants and an increased risk of developing blood cancer. This uncommon cancer has an effect on a specific type of white blood cell, known as a T cell. Although further research needs to be carried out, it has been thought that the cancer develops in the scar tissue (or capsule) that surrounds the breast implant.

Due to this potential implant-cancer relationship, the FDA is now creating a registry to continually analyse the cancer's prevalence in breast implant cases. At present, there have only been 60 incidents of ALCL reported on a global scale among the millions of women who have obtained breast implants. The cases that are under scrutiny involve both saline and silicone breast implants of both smooth and textured varieties.

The development of a seroma is the most common symptom that is associated with ALCL. A seroma is basically an accumulation of liquid that surrounds the breast implant. However, you should note that not all seromas are an indication of ALCL but if you develop one, it is worth being checked for the disease as a precaution.

Treatment of ALCL initially constitutes the removal of the breast implant. However, some women may need to undergo more aggressive treatments to eliminate the actual cancer.

Loss Sensation

Another side effect that you may wish to consult you surgeon about is the possibility of losing sensation in your breast, nipple, or both. This adverse effect is the results of the surgery damaging some of the nerve ending in your breast. A temporary loss after the procedure is relatively common, however, in some women this can be permanent.

The chance of nerve ending damage occurring is exaggerated by the use of certain techniques employed during breast implant surgery. As this is a preventable factor, if you are particularly concerned about losing sensation, then you should take the time during your consultation to tell your surgeon. They can then choose to perform a method that carries a lower risk of this side effect occurring.

Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture is one of the better-known side effects among the breast implant community and it is the result of your body's natural defence mechanism.

The human body is designed to react against any foreign objects that enter it, whether it is a bad bacterium or a piece of glass. A breast implant falls under the "foreign" category and so your immune system reacts by creating a membranous covering around the breast implant. Sometimes, this immune system reaction can become more aggressive and the covering becomes thicker. Subsequently, a capsule forms and puts a significant amount of pressure onto the implant causing it to become harder and lose its shape.

At present, it is impossible to decipher whether or not you will be unfortunate enough to suffer from capsular contracture after your breast implant procedure. Despite this, there are a number of factors that increases the probability of capsular contracture occurring such as breast trauma or there not being enough skin present to completely encase your breast implant.

Most often, treatment of capsular contracture involves further surgery to remove and replace (if plausible) the breast implant.

The Contents of the Breast Implant Leaking

There have been quite a few incidents of women's breast implants creating a leak and subsequently deflating. This can be quite a worry for women, however if you have got a saline implant, if the saline leaks out, it is simply absorbed by your body and no harm will be done. Alternatively, if you have got a silicone gel breast implant, the leaking silicone can result in a number of complications such as the breast becoming hard as well as scarring of the breast tissue. Thankfully, the silicone remains localised to the breast and so far there is no known threat of the silicone travelling to other areas of the body to cause disease there.

Breast Implant Rupture

During your consultation, you should also discuss the possibility of your breast implant rupturing and subsequently deflating. There are several potential scenarios that could result in your breast implant rupturing. These include:

  • General wearing of your breast implant over time as it ages
  • Trauma to the breast area
  • Pressure being applied to the breast at an excessive level

You should be able to tell if your breast implant has ruptured, as your breast tends to alter in both size and shape in a noticeable way.

In general, the treatment option associated with implant rupture involves the implant being removed and being replaced with a new one (if possible).

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