Breast Surgery Considerations
Cosmetic surgery is no longer just for aging socialites and starlets; it’s very much in the mainstream for women of all ages today.
The industry markets these surgeries as being easy and risk-free; pay X amount of dollars and – voilà! – you get a new body part.
Unfortunately, too many people take the advertising at face value and are not aware of what can go wrong. Don’t expect your plastic surgeon to tell you; do the research!
While some procedures are relatively non-invasive and low risk, controversy is growing over the safety of breast augmentation.
Implanting any foreign material in the body is risky and there is not nearly enough reliable information on long-term effects from these materials.
It is known, however, that both silicone and saline implants present hazards beyond the initial surgery and anesthesia.
All implants eventually break, necessitating further surgery for removal or replacement; there are no hard and fast rules on how they will last.
Leakage may be a problem before this happens, however, and is not easily detected. Saline is considered safer, but failure rates are higher and it can become contaminated with bacteria and mold. The saline is still contained in a silicone shell.
Silicone leakage in implant patients is currently being investigated for links to a range of autoimmune disorders and connective tissue diseases.
The risk for the rare ALCL (anaplastic large cell lymphoma) form of cancer appears increased for implant patients. Other concerns are as follows:
· More surgeries to repair, replace or remove implants
· Scar tissue & capsular contracture (tightened scar tissue causing pain or displacement of the implant)
· Infection
· Hematoma (collection of blood in tissue leading to other complications, requiring surgical drains for healing)
· Chronic breast pain, arthritis, joint pain
· Change in sensation from none too painful sensitivity
· Hardened, misshaped breasts
· Tissue atrophy, necrosis, skin problems
· Silicone migration to lymph nodes, other organs
· Problems breastfeeding, child health problems
· Harder to detect breast cancer
· Fatigue
· Memory loss, cognitive impairment
· Dissatisfaction with surgery results
Don’t let anyone tell you it’s a “procedure”; it’s surgery, which involves an enormous ordeal for the body. Recovery time varies with age, general health, etc. but even when you think you’ve recovered, your system will still be working invisibly to heal and re-balance for a long time after the trauma.
Don’t settle for one side of the story by believing everything you hear from a plastic surgeon; how many of them know the procedure from personal experience?
The best information always comes from experience, and from those with nothing to gain by sharing it. Be sure to read some forums with stories from women who’ve been there, e.g. http://www.humanticsfoundation.com/.
A comprehensive summary of risks and possible complications is available at http://www.center4research.org/breast-implants/ A bibliography of articles detailing scientific evidence of risks related to implant safety is available at .
Hi, my name is Janet Krause and this is my blog. I love writing about beauty and ways to enhance the way I look with all-natural methods. On my blog I share different reviews and experiences from using different products, I hope you enjoy.
