Breast Augmentation Complications
All procedures carry certain potential risks. At the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center in Cincinnati, we do everything within our means to minimize the risks of breast augmentation.
Never-the-less, patients need to understand that no physician can guarantee an outcome. In fact, if the physician offers a guarantee or claims that they have never had a complication—walk out the door, because that is not realistic. You should find a more honest professional.
At the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center, what sets us apart from the other practices is that we are very critical of our own results. We feel every patient is a unique work of art. If we think that we can improve a result, we will make every attempt to get you the maximal result. Likewise, if you feel there is something that can be improved-we want you to share that with us. In this way open communication exists because we feel that we are working as a team with you to get you the result that you want.
Breast Augmentation Complications include the following:
- Infection – We place you on antibiotics during and after surgery. If the implant gets infected, it must be removed for 2 to 3 months before being replaced.
- Deflation – With the newer implants, there is a 3 to 5% risk of the implant deflating with in the first 10 years. See section on manufacturer’s warranty under Breast Augmentation section. If the saline leaks, It simply gets re-absorbed in the body and the implant can be replaced. Silicone implants can be removed, and the newer cohesive gel implants can be removed much easier than the old liquid silicone (non-cohesive gel implant).
- Capsular Contracture – The newer generation implants form capsules or tissue reaction much less than the older implants. With smooth non-textured implants, the capsule formation rate is at 5%. If a thick capsule forms, the implant must be removed and replaced. Sometimes switching from saline to silicone or from silicone to saline can help. Placing the implant under the muscle can sometimes help.
- Breast Feeding – The surgery and implants can potentially cause an inability to breast feed and the patient needs to be aware of this.
- Rippling – For those patients with thin tissues and not as much breast tissue, the saline implants and to a less extent the silicone implants may reveal rippling or scalloping along the edges.
- Asymmetry – Most of us are built differently from side to side. Sometimes the implants may accentuate the difference in breasts. Sometimes with saline implants, more saline can be added to the smaller side to help improve the difference.
- Scars – At the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown utilizes a mini-incision approach to make the scar as small as possible. Most incisions heal fine whether they are placed under the breast, around the nipple, or in the arm pit. However, at times the scar may not heal well and become hypertrophic (thicker) or even a keloid (extremely thick).
- Numbness – Breast numbness is typically temporary following implant surgery. Permanent numbness especially around the nipple is less than 2%.
- Unibreast – If the breast implants are placed too close together, there is no cleavage space and a monobreast occurs. This can be difficult to correct. The implants must be removed and placed under the muscle if placed over the muscle and vice versa. A special suture is required to pull down the skin and soft tissue to create a separation between the two implants.
- Double Bubble – Certain breasts that have a prominent breast fold, large areola, and tubular shaped breast may be prone to “double bubble”. In this case the old crease from the original breast fold exists above the new breast crease made to accommodate the breast implant. These two creases create a double crease or “double bubble.” To correct this, the implant can be placed above the muscle to “iron out” the original crease.
- Sagging – Over time, breast implants may cause tissue sagging. Eventually, another implant may be needed or a breast lift may be required.
- General Risks – General anesthesia risks are exceeding rare and are discussed with the anesthesia personnel at the time of surgery.
At the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center only the “Cream of the Crop” from Cincinnati’s best hospitals are selected to provide anesthesia.
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