Breast Augmentation Risks
Although breast augmentation has been performed safely for many years, it’s still a surgical procedure, and all surgery comes with some risk. Some breast enhancement risks are specific to the breast augmentation procedure; others are not. Non procedure-specific risks can occur during any type of surgery. These surgery risks include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Blood clots
- Scars
- Poor wound healing
- Infection
- Anesthesia reactions
Risks that are Specific to Breast Augmentation
Some plastic surgery risks are specific to the procedure. Risks associated with breast implants, or breast implant surgery may include:
- Changes in breast sensation
- Severe bruising of the breasts
- Leaking breast implants
- Breast implant rupture
- Capsular contracture (see below)
Capsular Contracture
During breast augmentation recovery, you’ll develop a layer of scar tissue around your breast implants. Although scar tissue is normal following breast augmentation surgery, sometimes the scar tissue will contract and squeeze the implant, making the breast look and feel unnaturally firm. This is called capsular contracture.
Capsular contracture is the most common breast augmentation complication; however, proper exercise and daily breast massage can help you to minimize capsular contracture. If you do develop capsular contracture, you may need corrective surgery to remove or release the breast augmentation scar tissue.
All plastic surgery comes with some sort of risk. But most breast implant complications can be avoided by following your plastic surgeon’s instructions.