FAQ

Statistics show that most women who undergo breast augmentation surgery are thinner on average than the general population. As a young girl, if you wait for a while, you may reach your normal weight and may not need breast augmentation surgery. Additionally, it's important to know that no surgery is without complications. But it should be noted that breast augmentation surgery, when performed by skilled hands, is one of the most satisfying procedures in plastic surgery.

Breast augmentation surgery certainly has some risks, but the risks are higher for some women than others. Breast implants are not recommended for women with any of the following conditions:

• Active infections in the body

• Autoimmune diseases (such as arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma)

• Conditions related to wound healing or blood clotting

• Weakened immune system (e.g., those currently receiving immunosuppressive treatments)

The most common problem is capsular contracture (causing hardness and pain in the breast) and may require additional surgery.

The best way to determine if a silicone breast implant has ruptured or leaked is to have an MRI. A mammogram may not always detect ruptures or leaks, and an ultrasound can also be helpful, but the radiologist should be experienced in detecting implant ruptures and leaks. FDA scientists found that in women with implants for at least 10 years, at least one of them typically contained some form of leakage. Silicone gel breast implants may leak without symptoms for a long time. Common signs include changes in breast shape (shrinking or becoming irregular) and, in some cases of leakage, joint pain and symptoms of chronic fatigue. The removal of silicone implants with leakage should be performed by a highly experienced aesthetic plastic surgeon. All implants and leaks should be cleaned, and then they can be replaced with new implants.

Silicone breast implants can cause joint pains, chronic fatigue, mental confusion, and flu-like symptoms in highly sensitive women. Silicone is generally considered "biocompatible" and does not create an allergic or autoimmune response in most people (similar to an allergic response to bee stings). Women with autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, MS, or lupus are at a higher risk for breast implants.

We aesthetic plastic surgeons sometimes refer to these cohesive implants as "gummy bear" implants, making a reference to gummy bear candies. These new-model gel implants are thicker than many other silicone gel implants, which makes them less likely to rupture or leak. However, there is no evidence that these implants are safer in the long term because long-term studies have not been conducted. Also, all breast implants sold today contain gel that is less liquid than breast implants from 20 years ago. Cohesive gel implants are still considered experimental in the United States and have not been approved by the FDA.

Pediatricians believe that breast milk is safe in women with breast implants. We do not know if this is true because there is very little research on this topic. Generally, breastfeeding with breast implants is considered safe.

Despite most aesthetic plastic surgeons recommending massage after breast augmentation surgery, there is no clear research or evidence regarding the types of massage or what difference it makes. However, it's best to consult with the plastic surgeon who performed your surgery. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gürcan Aslan also recommends massage after breast augmentation surgery.