According to Medicinenet.com, the breasts refer to the upper front area of your chest. They are an organ designed to produce milk, thanks to the mammary gland with ducts that help make it. From the media’s and societies point of view, your breasts are symbols of femininity and sexuality. You may not have the biggest cup size, but your boobs add something more to boost your overall appeal.
Because of this, many women, even those with perfect breasts already, choose to get breast implants,
even if it means shelling out thousands of dollars of their hard-earned money.
If you are one of them, that’s okay. However, keep in mind that getting a boob job is not as easy as lying down and allowing your doctor to put implants in your breast area.
There are many things you should know about this procedure. It goes down to more than just what type of implant is best for you. Here are 10 important things you should know before you get a boob job. You may or may not decide that you don’t really need or want them, after all.
1. The Purpose Of Implants
You may think breast implants are meant to make your boobs bigger.
That’s true; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration didn’t approve implants merely for aesthetic reasons, or to make you look more appealing.
Originally, doctors used breast implants on women for reconstruction of the area after trauma or breast cancer surgery. It also helps correct developmental defects and improve the appearance of your chest area after surgery. Eventually, the purpose of the implants has evolved in order to adapt to the needs of modern society.
There are two types of implants you can choose from: saline and silicone. Saline implants are saltwater solution-filled implants, while silicone is a gel-filled implant that is almost similar to your natural breasts. Despite their differences, both types of implants have a silicon outer shell and come in various shapes, shell thicknesses and sizes.
2. They Come With Risks
There is no doubt that breast implants can give you an increase in cup size. They could also make you look better and feel better about yourself.
However, all good things come with a price, and by price, this means possible risks and complications.
Keep in mind that the implants that surgeons use today have gone through extensive testing to ensure their safety.
But, this doesn’t mean you are spared from the risks. Some of the common side effects associated with breast implants are as follows:
- Breast pain or discomfort.
- Rupture of the implants. Rupture of saline-filled implants are easier to detect compared to silicone ones.
- Capsular contracture, or scar tissue that develops over time and then squeezes the implants.
- Scarring and malformation.
This doesn’t stop there. Some women experience difficulties years after the surgery. This includes lactation difficulties, connective tissue diseases and reproductive issues. The FDA also identified a link between breast implants and the development of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). When you notice something unusual, make sure to consult your doctor immediately.
3. Breast Implants Are Not For Life
Unfortunately, the first time you got a boob job doesn’t mean it is your last.
It turns out that the longer you have your implants, the greater the possibility of developing complications.
This means going through another surgery to modify the size or shape of your breasts.
There is no exact number of years as to how long the implant will last. There are women who are able to keep their implants for up to 30 years, although this one is rare. The average life of implants is 10 years, if you’re lucky. Rupture of the implants could happen anytime and even before the 10-year mark.
4. The Importance Of A Surgeon
You have an idea of how big you want your boobs to be.
Most of us imagine simply walking into a surgeon’s clinic, having an examination, and then just scheduling the surgery. Apparently, that’s not how it goes.
Before you go through breast enhancement surgery, your surgeon needs to evaluate the shape, size and surface texture of your chest area. He will also discuss the placement of implants and the site of each incision. He will also inform you about the pros and cons of every available choice in this type of cosmetic procedure.
Aside from this, you also need to discuss with your doctor everything about your medical history. This includes your history and family history of breast cancer, any previous surgeries, how your body responds to surgery and wounds, and existing conditions or medications. Make sure to discuss your expectations, desired results, concerns and worries before going under the knife, too.
5. Learn About The Product
There is a reason why products come with labels. The label tells you what’s in it, how to use it, and until when you can use it. Therefore, make it a point to review the patient labeling.
At the same time, look into the Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data (SSED). This will help you learn more about the implants, their characteristics, and the fillers used.
SSED also provide summarized information about the risks, uses, precautions, warnings, and studies associated with the implant. Before you go through the procedure, ask your doctor for the most recent labeling of the implant. Take time to go through it before you decide to finally do it. This could save you tons of regrets in the end.
6. Monitoring Is Key
Just because everything went well after the surgery and you didn’t feel anything unusual after a week, you aren’t completely spared.
There are cases where something goes wrong a few months or even a few years after the surgery. Some women don’t even know that the implant has ruptured.
Therefore, it is important to monitor and take note of any changes post-surgery. If you noticed any unusual signs, report it immediately to your health care provider. If you chose silicone implants, make sure to get MRI screening three years after the surgery and then every two years after. This helps detect any ruptures that could compromise not just your breast size, but also your health.
Remember, breast health is important. Pay attention to the little details, and you will be fine.
7. On Breastfeeding
This is one of the most common concerns among women who have had breast implants.
If you went through breast augmentation surgery in your younger years and had kids later on, then there is good news for you. Breast implants won’t interfere with your ability to breastfeed, depending on the incision made.
If your surgeon made an incision around the areola, then you might not be able to breastfeed. This type of incision could disrupt the milk ducts and cause the inability to breastfeed. On the other hand, underarm incision or incision in the crease of the breasts won’t affect your milk ducts.
If you plan to have children someday, be sure to let the surgeon know, although this is a common question they ask all patients. Still, breastfeeding doesn’t come naturally in some women, regardless if you had implants or not.
8. Work And Working Out May Take A Back Seat
Fact: Obesity is a major problem, and not just in the United States, but also around the whole world. This is why First Lady, Michelle Obama, launched the Let’s Move! Campaign just to encourage Americans to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
But what if you have breast implant surgery?
The good news is you could get back to work a week after surgery, especially if you work in an office. However, if your job requires you to lift, push or pull things, then you might need to rest for a full two weeks to allow your body to heal.
When it comes to working out, give it three weeks. However, you can’t push yourself yet and could only do light exercises. You need at least six to eight weeks before you can get back on your workout groove completely.
9. It Could Get In A Mammogram’s Way
A mammogram is x-ray picture of your breasts, which helps detect lumps and other signs of breast cancer.
Did you know that your implants could get in the way when having a mammogram?
This is why it is important to tell the technician that you had breast enhancement surgery. This way,
he will be able to gently push up or displace the implants so he could see clearly the breasts. This is important so the radiologist will be able to detect properly the presence of breast cancer.
If you are worried about what the radiologist is thinking, don’t think about that much. With a high percentage of women going through breast enhancement surgery, he is used to it already.
10. Your Breast Size
During her interview with Jimmy Kimmel, actress Jennifer Lawrence told on national TV that her boobs don’t have the same size.
This causes alarm in the boobie world. Breasts come in twos, so they are supposed to have the same size, right?
Not really.
Surprisingly, there is no such thing as perfectly equal and identical breasts. One breast may be bigger than the other, and you won’t notice it unless you look at it closely. That is normal and there is nothing to worry about.
If you are concerned with the difference in size, you could ask your doctor to address this concern. You could go for either reducing the larger breast, or giving the smaller one a boost. Surgery may not make them total twins, but at least you don’t have to worry about customizing your bra.
Breast augmentation is a choice. Before you make the decision, be sure to take note of these 10 important things. You will want to have a discussion with your doctor on the pros and cons of this type of cosmetic surgery.