1. Implants will result in breasts that will look and feel fake
2. You have to be a trained and certified Plastic Surgeon in order to perform cosmetic breast implant surgery
3. All approved breast implants are of similar quality and safety
4. With implants a patient can choose to be whatever bra cup size they desire
5. All breast implantation is essentially the same so I should search for the best price
6. Breast implants can cause autoimmune disease and may increase risk of breast cancer
7. Local or ‘awake’ anesthesia is less risky than general anesthesia
8. Breast feeding is dangerous or not recommended if you have breast implants
9. Recovery following breast implant augmentation will be long and painful
10. Sagging breasts can always be corrected by breast implants
According to recent statistics from both The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) as well as The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the leading and most respected organizations in aesthetic surgery and medicine, breast augmentation is the most popular aesthetic surgery procedure. This has remained constant for years despite the growth and rise in popularity of other facial and body cosmetic surgeries. The reasons for this are debated but likely involve the profound physical and emotional benefits that improved breast contour and body image may have on a woman’s self-image, confidence, and quality of life.
Every year in the US nearly 300,000 women undergo breast augmentation with saline or silicone gel implants. Along with the increasing popularity and interest in this procedure, there are many common assumptions and opinions about cosmetic breast implant surgery that are often NOT based on science or proven data but on misconceptions and unproven public opinion. If you are one of the many women interested or considering cosmetic breast implant surgery, here are some of the proven facts based on clinical studies that may help clarify common myths about breast augmentation surgery.
10 Common Myths about Breast Implants
1. Implants will result in breasts that will look and feel fake
Board certified plastic surgeons have extensive training in all areas of breast augmentation, including selecting appropriate patients and the right type, style and dimension implant based on each patient’s unique anatomy and goals to result in a balanced and natural breast contour. Determining implant position, either below or above the chest wall muscle, incision placement and many other important considerations are essential to obtaining a harmonious and natural outcome. Unfortunately, some physicians who are performing breast implant surgery, are not certified or trained in plastic surgery and their outcomes may often result in unnatural appearing and uncomfortable feeling augmented breasts with higher risks and complications. On the other hand when done properly by a trained plastic surgeon, implanted breasts should be natural appearing and the implants undetectable to the casual observer.
2. You have to be a trained and certified Plastic Surgeon in order to perform cosmetic breast implant surgery
Many people and prospective patients are surprised to learn that any physician with a medical license may legally perform breast augmentation even without any credentialed plastic surgeon training. When considering cosmetic surgery patients should know that ‘cosmetic’ surgeons are NOT the same as ‘plastic’ surgeons. In order to become board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a physician must complete years (5-7) of rigorous and monitored training and then pass both written and oral examinations. The designation ‘cosmetic surgeon’ is not recognized or board certified specialty by the ABPS and is not the same as board certified Plastic Surgeon. Breast augmentation may seem to be a relatively simple operation but achieving safe and natural, long-lasting results requires many decisions and extensive training and experience.
3. All approved breast implants are of similar quality and safety
The FDA has approved two types of breast implants in the U.S.; saline filled and silicone gel filled. Both have a silicone outer shell and vary in size, shape, thickness and design. Even though FDA approved and available, breast implants are made by different manufacturers and will vary in quality and pricing. Prospective patients should be very careful of advertising or ‘deals’ for lower cost procedures as they may involve less reputable implants promoted by non-plastic surgeons in less credentialed facilities.
4. With implants, a patient can choose to be whatever bra cup size they desire
There are hundreds of different types and sizes and qualities of breast implants available on the market but the exact cup size that may result from implant surgery is not entirely predictable. This is not only because of the wide variation in what constitutes a certain bra ‘size’ by each manufacturing but also due to variations in each women’s breast shape, available skin and tissue, chest wall size and anatomic variations. In order to obtain natural and safe results an experienced surgeon will choose implant dimensions that are consistent and respect each patient’s unique, anatomic characteristics.
5. All breast implantation is essentially the same so I should search for the best price
As mentioned above, there are many different types of breast implants supplied by various manufacturers and pricing as well as quality may vary. The total cost for the procedure is also influenced by the location or facility involved for the procedure and the surgeon’s fees. Non-plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons will typically charge less than board certified plastic surgeons and patients should be wary of advertising low rates and ‘discounting’ or ‘deals.’ Warren Buffet’s advice: “Remember, the price is what you pay and value is what you get.”
6. Breast implants can cause autoimmune disease and may increase risk of breast cancer
Multiple long-term scientific studies including hundreds of thousands of women with implants have clearly proven that there is no association or cause and effect between breast implants and autoimmune disease or risk of breast cancer. There are anecdotal reports and online testimonials which have received medical attention of patients who claim to have developed health problems and diseases as a result of their implants but these claims have never been proven in any validated scientific studies or recognized by the FDA. It is important to note that all silicone gel and saline implants are cleared by the FDA. Recently, a rare type of lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been associated with some implants but the overall risk is extremely low (less than 1 in 30,000) and is usually curable by implant and capsule removal.
7. Local or ‘awake’ anesthesia is less risky than general anesthesia
While it was true that in the past general anesthesia carried higher risks than local or ‘awake’ anesthesia, numerous studies confirm that is no longer true for appropriately selected patients with modern anesthesia technique. With the advancement of short-acting anesthetic agents, precise monitoring and training in the specialty of anesthesia, predictable outcomes and speedy recovery are the norm and excellent safety has been confirmed in many clinical studies. In addition, particularly in submuscular breast augmentation surgery, a light general anesthesia provides greater patient comfort and allows better control of the surgery in most patients. Be careful of practices promoting local or ‘awake’ anesthesia in their own office setting for breast surgery – the motivation is often pricing and not patient safety.
8. Breast feeding is dangerous or not recommended if you have breast implants
Younger women considering breast implant augmentation may be concerned about unproven statements or potential risks for babies with breast feeding after augmentation. Many peer reviewed studies have confirmed consistently that there is no medical risks for babies who are born to or breast fed by women with saline or silicone implants. It is also relevant to remember that experienced plastic surgeons will usually recommend an incision that allows dissection avoiding the breast gland as the implant should never touch the breast itself but be placed under it or underneath the chest wall muscle.
9. Recovery following breast implant augmentation will be long and painful
Although there are testimonials, statements and opinions online and in social media regarding length of recovery time and discomfort, properly performed breast augmentation by an experienced plastic surgeon has typically a short and uneventful recovery. With the use of precise and gentle techniques, long acting 2-3 day nerve blocks (Exparel) and appropriate implant selection and post op care, patients are relatively comfortable and returning to normal activities in less time. When it comes to comfort and safety, it really does matter who is doing your surgery and where it is performed.
10. Sagging breasts can always be corrected by breast implants
Following pregnancies, breast feeding and aging, it is common for the breast tissue and skin to sag or loosen resulting in drooping along with a loss of fullness in the upper breast tissue. While it is true that breast augmentation implants can improve minor amounts of laxity or sagging, a breast lift (mastopexy) is often the best and most effective methods of restoring youthful breast contour. Combining breast augmentation with a breast lift (augmentation mastopexy) can correct both volume loss as well as breast descent. For all of the above reasons and due to the technical challenges of augmentation mastopexy, it is especially important to seek out an experienced board certified plastic surgeon in order to review all options and obtain safe and natural results.
Breast Augmentation surgery can provide significant physical and emotional benefits for appropriate women as well as improve quality of life. Proven improvements in biomaterials and techniques can offer more natural and long lasting results with excellent safety outcomes. Separating proven facts from fiction is especially essential for patient education prior to surgery along with meeting or exceeding patient expectations. As with any elective or aesthetic surgical procedure, a physician-patient relationship based on trust, transparency and clear communication remains the most important part of safe and satisfying outcomes.
