Complications and Risks of Breast Augmentation

There were 364,610 breast augmentation procedures performed in 2005. The top concerns of breast augmentation include the surgery itself, the implants, breast cancer and the risk of anesthesia. The risks and complications of breast augmentation are overwhelming. Risks include capsular contracture, nipple sensitivity, rippling, ruptures, immune systems disorders, synmastia, bottoming out, double bubble, Mondor's disease and of course just an overall dissatisfaction with the results of the procedure.

Capsular Contracture is when a scar or area around the implant begins to tighten. This causes the breast to feel hard. Capsules of living, tightly-woven collagen fibers naturally form around a foreign body, which in this case is the silicon-shelled breast implant. There is some speculation that the capsule forms to shield the body from a foreign object by creating a fibrous wall of tissue between the two. Capsular Contracture occurs in 5% of patients. There is no way to tell who will develop this problem and who will not.

Nipple sensitivity or loss of sensitivity usually disappears after several weeks, but for some it may become permanent. It can increase or decrease after surgery. The range of changes varies from intense sensitivity to no feeling in the nipple or breast following surgery. Changes in feeling may affect sexual response or ability to nurse a baby.

Rippling is when the breast begins to have indentations. This is often caused when the implant moves. This occurs most often with saline filled implants, because the fluid in the implant is less viscous than the silicone gel. Many patients favor sub muscular placement of the implants because it offers more soft tissue coverage over the implant. It is rare for rippling to be seen or felt through the muscle.