Anyone considering a breast augmentation or breast lift (mastopexy) with implants to improve their breast shape/size is routinely confronted with “plastic surgery gone wrong” horror stories. These myths almost always make the decision to proceed with a breast modifying procedure more complex. So what are the most common myths, and what do you really need to know?
1.) You need breast implants for a lift – FALSE. Only a breast lift, or mastopexy, can correct redundant skin and sagginess of the breast.
2.) You cannot breast feed after a breast augmentation – FALSE. Breast augmentation is typically performed with an incision through the inframammary fold, arm pit, or belly button and should not result in a problem with breast feeding.
3.) Natural breast augmentation with fat is better than breast implants – FALSE. Transferring a patient’s own fat to the breast after liposuction is a new procedure in the US, currently without regulatory approval, and thus no standardized practice amongst surgeons. The long-term safety considerations have yet to be fully studied, making this a unique and controversial procedure. Additionally, not all of the fat will survive the transfer, making future problems with symmetry and a pleasing aesthetic appearance difficult to forecast.
4.) Under the muscle is more natural looking than over the muscle – DEPENDS. In breast augmentation, the decision to place the implant under the pectoralis major muscle or subglandularly over the muscle is entirely dependent upon a patient’s individual anatomy. Differently, patients will achieve different results depending on their own anatomy. This decision should be made between the patient and the surgeon during the consultation.
5.) Saline is safer than silicone – FALSE. Saline implants gained popularity because silicone implants were thought to cause medical problems. After nearly twenty years of clinical study, this has not been proven true. In fact, silicone breast implants have been proven to perform equally over their lifespan as saline breast implants. Silicone implants are generally regarded to provide a more natural feeling than saline implants; however, saline implants require less surveillance and do not require MRIs.
If you would like further information, or would like to discuss breast surgery options, contact us today!
