At Esteem Aesthetics, we always strive to educate patients and to ensure they are fully informed of risks before saying “Yes” and proceeding with breast augmentation surgery.
When considering breast implants at Esteem Aesthetics in Sydney, it is important that you are aware of the potential risks and complications associated with this elective cosmetic surgery procedure. While the surgery is fairly straight-forward and the risks are low, there is always a chance that you could experience some of the known complications associated with this procedure.
Fact: Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer you have breast implants, the more likely it is that complications will occur and you will need to have them removed or replaced. It is important to note that there is no guarantee that you will have a satisfactory cosmetic outcome from any revision surgery.
The following is a list of local complications and adverse outcomes that occur in at least 1 percent of breast implant patients at any time. You may need non-surgical treatments or additional surgeries to treat any of these, and you should discuss any complication and necessary treatment with your surgeon at Esteem Aesthetics in Sydney. These complications are not in order of how often they occur:
Asymmetry - The breasts are uneven in appearance in terms of size, shape or breast level.
Breast Pain - Pain in the nipple or breast area.
Breast Tissue Atrophy - Thinning and shrinking of the skin.
Calcification/Calcium Deposits - Hard lumps under the skin around the implant. These can be mistaken for cancer during mammography, resulting in additional surgery.
Capsular Contracture - Tightening of the tissue capsule around an implant, resulting in firmness or hardening of the breast and squeezing of the implant if severe.
Chest Wall Deformity - Chest wall or underlying rib cage appears deformed.
Deflation - Leakage of the saltwater (saline) solution from a saline-filled breast implant, often due to a valve leak or a tear or cut in the implant shell (rupture), with partial or complete collapse of the implant.
Delayed Wound Healing - Incision site fails to heal normally or takes longer to heal.
Extrusion - The skin breaks down and the implant appears through the skin.
Seroma - Collection of fluid around the implant. May cause swelling, pain and bruising. The body may absorb small seromas. Large ones will require a surgical drain.
Skin Rash - A rash on or around the breast.
Unsatisfactory Style/Size - Patient or doctor is not satisfied with the overall look based on the style or size of the implant used.
Visibility - The implant can be seen through the skin.
Wrinkling/Rippling - Wrinkling of the implant that can be felt or seen through the skin.
Hematoma - Collection of blood near the surgical site. May cause swelling, bruising and pain. Hematomas usually occur soon after surgery, but can occur any time there is injury to the breast. The body may absorb small hematomas, but large ones may require medical intervention, such as surgical draining.
Latrogenic Injury/Damage - Injury or damage to tissue or implant as a result of implant surgery.
Infection, including Toxic Shock Syndrome - Occurs when wounds are contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi. Most infections resulting from surgery appear within a few days to a week, but infection is possible any time after surgery. If an infection does not respond to antibiotics, the implant may need to be removed.
Inflammation/Irritation - Response by the body to an infection or injury. Demonstrated by redness, swelling, warmth, pain and or/loss of function.
Lymphedema or Lymphadenopathy - Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes.
Malposition/Displacement - The implant is not in the correct position in the breast. This can happen during surgery or afterwards if the implant moves or shifts from its original location. Shifting can be caused by factors such as gravity, trauma or capsular contracture.
Necrosis - Dead skin or tissue around the breast. Necrosis can be caused by infection, use of steroids in the surgical breast pocket, smoking, chemotherapy/radiation, and excessive heat or cold therapy.
Nipple/Breast Sensation Changes - An increase or decrease in the feeling in the nipple and/or breast. Can vary in degree and may be temporary or permanent. May affect sexual response or breast feeding.
Palpability - The implant can be felt through the skin.
Ptosis - Breast sagging that is usually the result of normal ageing, pregnancy or weight loss.
Redness/Bruising - Bleeding at the time of surgery can cause the skin to change colour. This is an expected symptom due to surgery, and is likely temporary.
Rupture - A tear or hole in the implant’s outer shell.
For more information on Breast Augmentation Surgery click here or contact us.