Breast Implant Risks
In 1992, after 30 years of manufacture and surgery, the FDA banned silicone breast implants for most women. Why? Not because the surgery itself was risky, but because of the tens of thousands of cases of complications and health issues experienced by women after receiving implants.
Even though most women are no longer able to get silicone breast implants, the truth is that there are risks associated with any type of breast implant.
Understanding these breast implant risks will help you make a more educated decision about whether or not breast implants are right for you.
Risks of Breast Implants
Though silicone implants have by far the most health-endangering risks, many of these following complications also apply to saline and other types of breast implants.
1. Implants can rupture during mammography.
2. Implants make routine self exams and mammography more difficult. More views are necessary, meaning additional radiation each time.
3. Implant rupture can go undetected for years and silicone is known to migrate through the lymph system and has been found in the brains, spinal fluid, ovaries, livers, and other organs of implanted women.
4. Implants are not lifetime devices, and may need to be replaced (even without systemic problems) more than once a decade. That means that implant surgery will require maintenance surgery.
5. At any time infections are possible, including fungal and antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.
6. Loss of breast sensation, especially around the nipple area is reported, as well as hyper-sensitivity to touch.
7. Capsular contracture can be very uncomfortable, to the point of severe pain and deformation. Correction of this disorder may involve removing the implants.
8. Many women have experienced severe necrosis and other forms of breast tissue loss.
9. Many women have experienced serious autoimmune diseases post implantation including: rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, Sjøgrens Syndrome (severe dry mouth, eyes, etc.), and lupus. Those women with pre-existing compromised immune systems are now warned to avoid implants.
10. Disproportional numbers of implanted women have reported neurological and cognitive complications, as well as endocrine disruption including hysterectomies, miscarriage. (Applies primarily to silicone implants.)
11. Children born of silicone-implanted women have experienced the same autoimmune conditions and have been seriously inadequately studied.
12. Breast implants often negatively affect the ability to produce milk for breast-feeding.
13. Health insurance carriers are routinely denying coverage for implanted (and explanted) women.
These risks should be firmly held in mind by any woman considering breast implant surgery. Remember that there are non-surgical breast augmentation options, including breast enlargement pills and creams.
