Posted June 25, 2015 in Blog, Breast Augmentation
Most people know to take beauty mags with a grain of salt. But when it comes to surgery and medical advice, one would hope publications would perform a bit of extra fact checking. This wasn’t the case for a recent article from Cosmo, titled “21 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Boob Job.”
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures with some of the highest patient satisfaction ratings. In spite of this, misinformation about the procedure continues to persist.
3 BREAST AUGMENTATION MYTHS
While we applaud Cosmo for getting more right about breast enhancement than many of their counterparts, the article still contains a few half-truths and misses out on some key points.
Following are some key medical facts that Cosmo didn’t get right:
#1 BREAST AUGMENTATION TYPICALLY DOES NOT AFFECT BREASTFEEDING
The majority of mothers with breast implants have no problem breastfeeding. If your implants are placed through inframammary (under the breast) or axillary (armpit) incisions, the risk of damaging your milk ducts is practically null. That risk increases a little with areolar incisions, but is still quite low. Note that the the ability to breastfeed isn’t guaranteed regardless of whether or not a woman has implants; quite a few women without implants find they can’t breastfeed. The best way to avoid inadvertent damage to milk ducts is to choose a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon with many years of breast augmentation experience.
#2 YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE VERY HAPPY WITH YOUR IMPLANTED BREASTS FOR YEARS TO COME
While breast implants may not last forever, many patients enjoy long-lasting results and do not pursue additional surgery. Some women may choose to have additional procedures performed after pregnancy, aging, or weight fluctuation, but many women are still pleased with their results after various body changes.
Additionally, complications that require revision, such as implant rupture or capsular contracture, are rarer than ever and can largely be avoided thanks to the improvement of breast implants and advancements in surgical techniques.
#3 YOUR NIPPLE SENSITIVITY WILL LIKELY BE INTACT AFTER BREAST IMPLANTS
Loss of nipple sensation after breast augmentation is a fear many patients express, but the risk is very low (under 5%). During the recovery period, women may experience numbness or heightened sensitivity, though this is most often temporary and lasts between three to six months. Extra large implants may increase this risk; a board certified plastic surgeon can help you choose a safe and proportionate implant size for your frame.
WHERE TO LEARN ABOUT BREAST AUGMENTATION
If you are curious about breast augmentation or any other cosmetic procedure, you should seek the advice of an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon. The consultation process is a great way to learn more about a procedure and find out what your options are.
It may also be helpful to hear from other breast augmentation patients. Online communities like RealSelf and JustBreastImplants.com are a great resource for reading about other women’s experiences, having your questions answered, and seeing real patient results.
If you’re in the Atlanta area and hoping to learn more, give us a call! Dr. Brothers would love to walk you through the breast augmentation process and help you understand how you can achieve a result you’ll love.
