According to the figures published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast enhancement presently ranks as the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States.
The surgery has become less painful and less invasive over the years due to developments in surgical techniques. But similar to any surgical procedure, some risks are intrinsic to breast enhancement.
During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will inform the patient about the possible risks and temporary side effects that the procedure will involve. The primary concern of a responsible surgeon will be to enable the patient to make an informed decision after gaining an understanding of all relevant information.
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim provides breast enhancement to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding locations.
Breast Enhancement Risks
In this procedure, silicone or saline breast implants are used. This creates its own set of risks for a procedure such as breast enhancement cosmetic surgery.
Capsular Contracture
The implants are placed within the breast tissue. The immune system responds by creating scar tissue around the implant. At times, this scar tissue may contract or harden, placing the implant under undue strain.
In case the scar tissue becomes excessively hard, it will squeeze the silicone shell of the implant. This may cause the implant to become misshapen, damaged, or shift from its position. The patient may also experience pain or discomfort due to the hardening of the breast capsule. In such cases, it may be necessary to undergo a breast implant removal or replacement surgery.
Implant Rippling
Sometimes the amount of skin available in the breast region may be limited. However, the implant size may be more substantial. This may lead to the implant developing folds or creases, causing a rippling effect on the surface. This will affect the natural aesthetic breast appearance.
An experienced surgeon will guide the patient to select the appropriate implant size according to their breast anatomy to minimize the risk of implant rippling.
Implant Shifting
In exceptional cases, the implant may shift from its desired position soon after the breast enhancement procedure is undertaken. The risk of displacement is higher with larger sized implants. However, the risk of implant rupture is associated with all implant sizes.
Surgery-Related Risks
Certain risks are inherent to all surgical procedures, including breast enhancement cosmetic surgery.
Infection
The risk of infection development can be reduced if breast enhancement surgery is undertaken at a professional surgical venue with a sterile environment. The surgeon may prescribe antibiotics for a few days after the surgery to reduce the risk of infection after the procedure.
Altered Sensation in Nipples
The patient may experience sensitivity, numbness, or altered sensation in the nipple region after breast enhancement surgery. The condition will typically resolve rapidly. However, in some cases, the change in sensation may last for longer or even be permanent. An experienced surgeon will adopt a conservative surgery approach to reduce such risks.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for breast enhancement.
Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.
