Introduction
Breast implants are a growing controversy among many women in today's society. A breast implant is a foreign object inserted into the body for cosmetic purposes (Webster). Each year the number of implants received by women nearly double in numbers and top the statistic charts. In 2004 alone, an average of 262,000 women received breast implants for cosmetic purposes (Alagna). This number has increased by nearly twice the amount from the previous year, 2003 (Alagna). The growing population of women who will receive breast implants in year 2005 will increase by 12% from 2004 (Alagna).
The surgery alone is not what might turn women off from receiving the implants; the outrageous costs of the implants along with the additional fees are astronomical. The average cost today for breast implants ranges anywhere from $5,000.00-$8,000.00 (Henry et al). The implant itself is not what necessarily costs the most, the fees that the doctors' charge to actually perform the surgery is the expensive part. "I will be paying off my (sic) $6,500.00 in payments for my breasts over the course of the next three years." (Capps). Some women may want to receive the implants but may not be able to afford them.
Thousands of women receive breast implants each year without fully understanding the risks, possible deformities, and knowledge of the different types of implants involved in the surgery.
Risks
The endless numbers of risks involved in cosmetic breast implant surgery are tremendous. Infections are one of the most common risks today involved in the surgery. If the implant becomes infected, 90% of the time it must be removed in order to treat and prevent later infections (Loftus). Infections unfortunately cannot be treated with oral antibiotics because infections are able to outlive that type of antibody (Henry et al). The first step involved in treating infections is to administer IV antibiotics immediately by catheter which will hopefully kill off the infection within a few days (Henry et al). In some cases IV antibiotics do not work and the surgeon may recommend removal of the implant (Henry et al). The patient can choose to replace the implant three months after the removal in order to ensure proper heeling time (Henry et al). "I got (sic) an infection the first week after surgery from the open laceration through my belly button and my first question to myself was if this was really worth it." (Capps).
The risk of a hematoma, an extreme case of a blood clot, may also occur. If the hematoma is too large, surgical exploration is required and the implant may need to be removed (Loftus). Luckily, hematomas only occur 9% of the time in an implant surgery (Olesen). A hematoma must be fixed immediately to control the loss of blood in the body (Olesen). In a less severe case of a hematoma, bleeding will usually stop by itself and there will be no need for an additional surgery to correct the problem (Olesen). There have been studies taken and ...
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The risk of a hematoma, an extreme case of a blood clot, may also occur. If the hematoma is too large, surgical exploration is required and the implant may need to be removed (Loftus). Luckily, hematomas only occur 9% of the time in an implant surgery (Olesen). A hematoma must be fixed immediately to control the loss of blood in the body (Olesen). In a less severe case of a hematoma, bleeding will usually stop by itself and there will be no need for an additional surgery to correct the problem (Olesen). There have been studies taken and those women who take aspirin and ibuprofen are at a much higher risk of developing a hematoma (Loftus).
"Abnormally tight scar tissue [also known as capsular contracture] that forms all around implanted materials as a natural part of healing." (Loftus) The risk of developing a capsular contracture ranges from 10%- 50% of the women who receive breast implants (Loftus). The 10% of women who obtain breast implants receive a severe capsular contracture while 50% only get a mild case (Loftus). Oddly enough, regardless of the severity of the capsular contracture, there is no treatment needed (Loftus). The only time a surgeon will seek treatment is if the patient requests it (Loftus).
Infections, hematomas, and capsular contractures are all risks involved in cosmetic breast surgery; the majority of the women that seek or need additional surgeries after receiving breast implants are also included as a major risk. In 2004, 52% of the women who went under the knife to receive breast implants had additional surgeries from the dissatisfaction with their implants after the first surgery (Olesen). Achieving the perfect body, self-esteem issues, or simply the disappointment of the outcome of the surgery could urge women to seek extra surgeries (32-33). Over time, breast implants change in shape and develop deformities in a women's body which could also lead women to seek additional surgeries (Olesen).
Deformities
The deformities of breast implants can range from mild to extreme cases. Breast cancer after obtaining breast implants is a growing problem associated with the surgery. If a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer after the implants have been placed in the body, it is almost impossible to detect the cancer (Henry et al). Breast cancer causes distortion and discoloration of the breast from the insertion of the implant (Henry et al). "Placing the implant under the muscle of the breast will assist in determining possible breast cancer and can be seen during a woman's mammogram." (Henry)
Rippling is another form of deformity among breast implants. Rippling occurs in saline implants because of its liquid consistency (Loftus). In saline implants, the liquid moves freely in the breast causing small waves in the implant which are then transmitted to the skin (Loftus). These waves transmitted to the skin cause the implant to wrinkle on the inner and lower sides of the breast, which is almost impossible to eliminate (Loftus). The rippling and wrinkling of an implant can cause an unnatural appearance of deformity, with one breast being bigger than the other (Olesen). "I just got through the pain of the complicated surgery and I am already noticing signs of wrinkling; there's no avoiding it."(Capps).
Types of Breast Implants
Saline implants are usually the type of breast implant that many women decide on when surgery approaches. The cost of the saline implant is half as expensive as silicone, making the surgery as a whole more affordable (Olesen). "I received saline implants because of the difference in the cost. Saline was $6,500.00 while silicone was a crazy $8,000.00 after it was all said and done."(Capps) Although saline implants are more firm and have a more unnatural appearance than silicone, the price of the surgery makes many women choose the saline over the silicone (Olesen).
Saline implants have the ability to microadjust in volume, meaning a surgeon is able to change the volume of the implants in order to balance the two sides (Olesen). The wrinkling and rippling are an inevitable disadvantage to saline implants, however having the ability to micoadjust the volume of the implant can slow down the process of the wrinkling (Olesen). After all, saline implants are felt as wrinkles towards the bottom of the implant (Olesen).
Saline implants of course have their share of advantages and disadvantages. Luckily, saline implants have no connection with autoimmune disease which could destroy a woman's immune system (Alagna). As well as having no connection with autoimmune disease, saline implants have a less incidence for developing capsular contracture than silicone implants (Alagna). However, if the implant were to rupture the body would quickly absorb the saline fluid which could lead to a fatal outcome (Alagna). The saline implant also has an unnatural, firm feeling which many women do not particularly like because it does not feel like breast tissue (Alagna).
The second type of implant is the silicone-gel implant. Silicone implants cost nearly twice as much as saline implants, making the whole procedure very expensive (Olesen). Unlike saline, silicone has a soft and natural feel, making some women vulnerable to receiving this type of implant regardless of the price (Olesen).
Silicone implants have disadvantages with their ability to change in volume and can contain rippling effects. Unfortunately, there is no option for microadjustment with silicone implants because it is not a fluid, meaning size variations cannot be corrected in 25 to 50 cc increments. This unfortunate circumstance of silicone implants could cause slight asymmetry in breast size (Olesen). Unlike saline implants, silicone does not develop wrinkling because of its gel- like consistency; it does however develop rippling effects (Olesen). These ripples do not have the ability to be corrected, adding another disadvantage to receiving silicone-gel implants (Olesen).
The advantages and disadvantages with silicone-gel implants work indirectly with the saline implants. Silicone feels more like breast tissue, which has a soft and natural feel to it (Alagna). If there were a case of a rupture in the implant, the body would not absorb the silicone because it is a gel not a fluid (Alagna). However with silicone implants, there is a connection with autoimmune disease and there is also an increase in the incidence of developing capsular contracture (Alagna).
Conclusion
Breast implants have a huge impact on women in today's society. Women are so naive about the facts of the implants because many will do anything to achieve that perfect image. "If I was given another chance to rethink the idea of breast implants, my first thought would be to not get (sic) them or not to even recommend the idea to anyone else. The pain, discomfort, and all the risks I found out after receiving the implants makes me nervous everyday." (Capps)
Are the risks and deformities of breast implants really of importance to women, or does today's society make women feel that they need to better themselves in order to gain self-confidence? "...I felt so self-conscious of myself. I felt that it would boost my self esteem." (Capps) With the popularity of breast implants growing each year, many women believe that implants are safe and pain free. However the risks, possible deformities, and the different types of implants involved in the surgery should be thought out to the fullest before one decides to make a life-altering change.
