Breast Implants - How Safe They Are?

Cosmetic surgery is something that has become very popular in today’s world. As a matter of fact, the most common type of cosmetic surgery performed happens to be breast implantation. This is proven by the fact that the number of people signing up for this sort of surgery has trebled over the past two decades. That being said, many people have concerns about how safe breast implants are. So, getting to the crux of the matter, how safe are they?

In order to answer this question, it is helpful to understand what exactly an implant is. A breast implant is made of silicone and there may be either silicone gel or saline water contained inside the silicone envelope. One of the biggest fears when it comes to breast implants is that of a rupture. While it is true that this is not a circumstance to look forward to, it is not fatal and something which can negatively affect the body prior to detection. In fact, for quite some time, it may not even be noticed!

If a person has saline breast implants and there is a rupture, it is harmless as the salt water which escapes gets absorbed by the body. On the other hand, when the same happens with breast implants containing silicone gel, the gel can get distributed beyond the breast. While this is not a comfortable thought, research over the course of many years has not shown a link between the two.

Prior to 1976, which was the year in which the FDA required certain standards of implants, there was a risk. Ever since then, there has been tight regulation and one need not be unduly worried about unsafe implants being sold.

Understanding The Procedure
When the surgery first takes place, precautions have to be taken so as to reduce the risk of infection. A little care can go a long way in making sure everything goes according to plan. The process involves making an incision in an inconspicuous area of your breast and inserting the implant in a pocket either under the pectoral muscle or behind the breast tissue (over the pectoral muscle). The entire surgery involves either intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on your doctor’s recommendation. Sometimes, it may be so that a woman needs to have repeated procedures or corrections to make sure that everything is just right. Some discomfort can be caused by scar tissue and this can also lead to the breast becoming misshapen.

Results
While all implants do break over time, most of good quality should last over a decade. Many people believe breast implants can cause cancer but that is really not true. However, they can interfere with detecting mammary cancer quickly and effectively. As long as the medical care is proper, there is almost nothing to fear!

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!