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The top Five Breast Implant Complications that a patient may experience after having a breast augmentation whether it is cosmetic or reconstructive include:
#1 SIZE, SHAPE & SAGGING:
Breast implants can experience several complications related to size, shape, and sagging.
It could be the size of the implant, it could be the placement of the implant, it could be the type of implant that it is or there may have been changes in the body that occurred after the implant went in.
Common issues we also see regarding shape and size is age of the implant or things that the patient may have gone through since getting the implants.
One of those being pregnancy or breastfeeding so if you have implants and you choose to get pregnant or breastfeeding or if you had implants in for a while and this is something that you may be thinking about in the future, one of the things that can happen after a breast augmentation once you become pregnant and breastfeeding is drooping or sagging so those nice perky round breast implants that you've had for a while that look great and you're really happy with them, over time can begin to sag and droop and that will change the look of the breast.
#2 BREAST IMPLANT RUPTURE
A breast implant rupture is a tear or hole in the outer shell of the implant. There are many reasons why a breast implant may rupture, it could be the actual valve, the material of the implant, trauma to the implant or even capsular contracture which is a condition that squeezes the implant and may degrade the implant overtime.
Considering the two basic types of implants are either saline or silicone the easiest way to identify that if a rupture has occurred is by how quickly a change has occurred.
When a silicone implant ruptures, the gel leaks out slowly because it is thick. Silicone gel is not absorbed into the body.
When a saline breast implant tears, causing the breast to flatten and lose volume. It is typically easy to detect.
Some signs that may indicate a rupture, including:
- Changes in breast shape
- Lumps
- Pain or Tenderness
- Skin changes
#3 RIPPLING
Breast implant rippling is one of many complications that women can experience after their breast augmentation surgery. Rippling is typically where the implant is visible on the side of the patient’s breast due to the fact that the implant most likely is saline and the patient does not have a lot of fatty tissue it’s real thin layer of skin not a lot of fat typically noticeable from the side or if the patient is faced down and the implant is hanging you will see that rippling on the lateral side of the breast.
#4 CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE
Capsular contracture being more common than we think or that we see based on data, studies, and literature that taut anywhere between 3% or 5% is more common than most people know.
Breast Implant Capsular Contracture is a complication of breast augmentation or reconstructive surgery in which the capsule of scar tissue that normally forms around the breast implant tightens and hardens. This can create discomfort, distortion of the shape of the breast, and, in some instances, pain.
Typically, it happens to one breast but sometimes it can happen to both breasts.
In some cases, you might be too advanced, or the implant is too old, or the implant is rupture, and surgery might be the only option.
It is particularly important to juggle non-surgical options vs surgical options because unfortunately surgeons despite their best efforts when going in for surgery, removing the implant and removing the capsule, can still potentially lead to a remarkably high reoccurrence rate.
Here at the Aspen Center, we offer a non-surgical option to treat breast implant capsular contracture is called the Aspen Rehabilitation Technique. It is offered at the Aspen After Surgery Center located in Coral Springs, Florida. It is an international fly-in destination that offers a 5-day fast-track treatment for those suffering from breast implant capsular contracture who want to avoid surgery.
#5 BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS (BII)
This term is used to describe a range of symptoms that some patients associate with breast implants, including fatigue, memory loss, joint pain, rash, and “brain fog”. These symptoms can start immediately after surgery or years later. Some patients find that their symptoms improve or disappear after having their implants removed.
If you would like information about preventing capsular contracture after your planned surgery or even as an alternative to avoiding surgery, call the Aspen after surgery treatment center at 818-478-9208. You can also request a virtual evaluation where a clinical expert can look at your present condition determine if you are a candidate for either treatment or prevention and discuss how and where this treatment can be received.