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MYTH OR REALITY? : BUSTING 7 COMMON FALSE NOTIONS ABOUT BREAST AUGMENTATIONS

    Sultry-eyed and curvaceous celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have dominated the media we consume today. There is no doubt that they have been heavily impacting our generation’s trends. These celebrities’ influence is evident on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. From songs to advertisements to television programs, it is evident that our contemporaries highly appreciate ample curves in the female body.

     

    Consequently, more and more women have been turning towards surgical means to alter their bodies to achieve the voluptuous frame of their dreams. Hence, breast augmentation rose to the forefront as one of the top cosmetic surgical procedures in the USA in 2019, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

     

    Misconception 1: Breast Augmentations Always Look and Feel Glaringly Obvious

    The result of breast augmentation depends on several factors, mainly the skill of your surgeon, the amount of breast tissue you have, and the type and size of the implant you choose. An implant will look natural, whether it is placed below or above the muscle, although the former is more common. 

     

    Additionally, choosing a board-certified surgeon will drastically improve your chances of aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and natural-looking results. Furthermore, an implant looks more natural if you have a lot of breast tissue to cover the implant and the size of the implant is not abnormally large. Finally, silicone implants are preferable over saline ones because the former doesn’t produce unsightly ripple effects and mimics fat texture.

     

    Misconception 2: Breast Implants Cause Breast Cancer

    The simple answer is no. There is no concrete evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer. However, researchers have found that 93-96% of women with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) have textured breast implants. ALCL is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Although experts aren’t sure how this exactly happens, talking to your doctor about this issue and discussing other safer alternative implants will help you put your mind to ease.

     

    Keep in mind that ALCL is extremely rare, and only an approximated 1 out of 50,000 women will ever develop the condition.

     

    Misconception 3: Silicone Implants Trigger Autoimmune Disease

    In 1992, there were concerns regarding silicone implants’ safety, which caused the FDA to ban them. The general idea was that silicone implants could rupture, causing the gel to enter the body and cause autoimmune illnesses. However, they have not found any links between silicone implants and autoimmune diseases, and thus, they returned to the market in 2006.

     

    Unfortunately, one major issue with silicone implants is that it is complicated to determine whether they are leaking or not. Therefore, the FDA suggests that women with silicone implants get MRI scans three years after the surgery, and then every two years to make sure their implants are stable.

     

    Misconception 4: Breast Implants Need to be Changed Every Decade

    Of course, breast implants do not last forever. During their lifetime, they will experience numerous events that might require you to get them replaced. Most of the time, an implant may leak or experience capsular contracture. 

     

    In capsular contracture, an abnormal scar forms around the breast implant, the implants contract and deform. This condition will progressively worsen to become more painful and eventually displaces the implants. The more time has elapsed since the surgery, the greater the chance that the conditions mentioned above will affect your implants.

     

    Despite these complications, an implant may need to be changed after a decade is not guaranteed. For some people, it could take even less time or longer for the implants to become damaged. You will need to keep up with regular follow-ups, mammograms, sonograms, MRIs, and breast exams to pinpoint when you need a replacement.

     

    Misconception 5: Women Can Choose As Large a Cup Size As They Desire

    Breast implants come in all shapes and sizes, so the possibilities may seem endless when you want to get a breast augmentation procedure done. Unfortunately, predicting the result may be difficult since cup sizes differ by country or brassiere manufacturer. For the latter group, differences exist amongst themselves in the way they measure cup sizes.

     

    That is why if you are aiming for the most natural look, make sure that your selected breast implants are similar to the proportions of your natural breasts, in terms of width and diameter. The implants should also be appropriately positioned on your chest.

     

    Misconception 6: Breastfeeding with Implants is Dangerous for the Baby

    A common concern that women in their 20s or 30s have regarding breast implants is that they fear how getting one could affect their future unborn children. Fortunately, children born to women who have breast implants face no adverse consequences during pregnancy, after birth, or breastfed. 

     

    An issue with breast augmentation surgery is that the woman might lose sensation in her nipples, which may or may not return. This might, in turn, affect breastfeeding. Therefore, good plastic surgeons will employ various surgery techniques to reduce the chances of that occurring.

     

    Misconception 7: Any Plastic Surgeon is Qualified to Perform a Breast Augmentation

     

    A board-certified surgeon goes through years of intensive assessments to receive the proper qualifications to conduct this surgery. That is why your surgeon must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). A cosmetic surgeon’s title is not enough to ensure that your surgeon will give you the best results.

     

    Although breast augmentation is not an overly complicated surgery, there are still many comprehensive steps that you will have to go through so you can get the frame of your dreams:

     

    • A complete evaluation of your breast anatomy
    • A consultation where you discuss the results you desire
    • An explanation of the type of breast implants out there, and recommendations based on your needs
    • A follow-up appointment after surgery to ensure that you aren’t facing any complications

     

    Your surgeon must be knowledgeable about an array of surgical techniques and perform them to get you the results you want. Luckily for you, if you are looking to get breast implants in Winnipeg, Dr. Robert Turner has got your back at Aesthetic Solutions. He is a board-certified surgeon who has made patients’ dreams come true for over 20 years and is well versed in various surgical techniques.

     

    Conclusion

    Hopefully, the above information has helped dispel your fears. Good luck!