Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Implants?
Breast implants can be desirable for many women of varying ages. For younger women, the goal is usually to enhance the breasts to achieve a bigger bust size and shape. It often doesn’t have to do with age or issues of sagging. Many women in their 20s and early 30s are seeking to enhance naturally small breasts or increase the size they already have. Women in the later stages of their lives, such as the 30s and 40s are often seeking to restore the perkiness of their youth and reduce any trauma caused by breastfeeding, hormonal changes, gravity, wrinkling, and more. These women may benefit from implants combined with a lift. Other candidates include women who have naturally pendulous breasts or struggle with asymmetry, where one breast is larger than the other. Regardless of your aesthetic goals, eligible patients must be in good general health, be at least six months post-birth, and have a thorough understanding and realistic expectations of the results. If you are looking for a more comprehensive enhancement, complete with body contouring procedures such as liposuction or a BBL, you can consider combining your treatments or opting for a mommy makeover.
Will Breast Implants Impair my Ability to Breastfeed?
Contrary to popular belief, many women with implants can comfortably breastfeed with no troubles. While there is a risk that breast surgery procedures such as implants, lift, and reduction can impair your ability to breastfeed, this can often be avoided with careful technique and an experienced plastic surgeon. It is often recommended that women wait until they have gone through childbirth for the last time before undergoing a breast augmentation procedure, but this is not always the optimal option for everyone. If you are seeking a breast implant procedure and wish to breastfeed sometime in the future, be sure to discuss this with your surgeon so they can plan accordingly and find the best course of action to achieve the desired results.
Are Breast Implants Permanent?
Plastic surgery procedures generally offer long-term or permanent results that don’t require regular maintenance outside of lifestyle habits and personal choices with each patient. Unlike other non-surgical procedures, breast enhancements offer patients the ability to have fuller, larger, or more voluminous breasts for many, many years to come. That being said, breast implants are not intended to be permanent and will likely need to be removed or exchanged within five to ten years after your first surgery. Some women find that their implants last for decades without needing to be exchanged, but this can generally increase your risk for rupture or scar tissue. In many cases, patients find that down the line they wish to change their implant size, shape, or type, especially if they want to switch from saline to silicone (or vice versa). Talking to your surgeon can help you understand how this works and what can be expected years down the line.
What are the Risks Associated with Breast Implants?
Breast augmentation surgery is a major surgery that should be considered in great detail before patients commit to it. A good surgeon will help you understand all the risks and any issues you should keep an eye out for during the healing process. As with most cosmetic surgeries, breast implants come with risks, such as:
- Anesthesia complications
- Bleeding
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation
- Visibly poor scarring
- Capsular contracture (tight scar tissue that forms around the implant)
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Visible wrinkling beneath the skin
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
- Persistent discomfort or pain
- Possibility of revision surgery
When Will I See Results with Breast Augmentation?
A breast augmentation surgery will require some time before patients can see the full results and enjoy their new appearance. Generally speaking, women can see a significant improvement in swelling after the first six to eight weeks. This is when the breasts start to “drop” and the final form will start to be visible. This also depends on the placement of your implants. Subpectoral implants can take up to three months for results to be visible. Even after this time, there will still be some swelling to consider. Overall, after six months patients will be able to comfortably show off their flattering new figure.
