Knowing The Complications Of Breast Implants _____
Increasingly, women have been opting for breast reconstruction after undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. Surgery to restore the appearance of breasts can be very beneficial for women and help them regain confidence.
Common types of breast implants used are silicone implants or saline implants. Most women who get breast reconstruction done using implants are satisfied with their choices. However, before you make the decision to get breast implants it is vital to know the possible complications that may come with it. The potential complications of breast implants are discussed below.
1-Breast Pain
Sometimes, even when the implants are placed satisfactorily, women may experience pain in either the nipple or breast area. Sometimes, this will subside but other times it may not. This complication may be rectified by minimal corrective surgery.
2-Altered sensation
An implant, no matter what material it is made up of, is a foreign object. In a small minority of women who undergo breast reconstruction, there may be an increased or decreased feeling in the nipple or breast. This altered sensation can vary in degree from person to person and may be either temporary or permanent. This altered sensation is usually most pronounced during sexual activity or breast feeding.
3-Capsule contracture
Since the implant is a foreign object to your body, a thin layer of scar tissue may form around the implant. This tissue is often referred to as the “capsule”. As time passes, this tissue capsule around an implant may tighten and constrict the implant. This can result in firmness or hardening of the breast and may cause discomfort.
4-Rupture or deflation
This can happen when a tear or hole appears in the implant’s outer shell. This can lead to leakage of the saltwater (saline) solution from a saline-filled breast implant, or leakage of silicone into the body in case of silicone implants. This can lead to visible implant collapse and an immune response by the body.
5-Breast atrophy
This is when the breast tissue surrounding the implant starts to thin or shrink in response to the implant itself. This can lead to reduced cosmesis of the implant and other complications if left unaddressed.
6-Asymmetry
Sometimes, the body reacts to implants in different ways in the same person. This can result in breasts that are uneven in appearance in terms of size, shape or breast level. Sometimes a secondary surgery may be required to correct the positioning of the implant.
7-Calcification
Over time, some women develop calcified hard lumps under the skin around the implant. These can be mistaken for cancer during mammography, but imaging diagnostic tests can help to differentiate between the two. However, this can be misdiagnosed as cancer and lead to unnecessary invasive surgery.
8-Infection
This can occur when wounds are infected with microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi. Typically, infections resulting from surgery emerge within a few days to a week, however, an infection is possible any time following a surgery. This can be very dangerous and result in sepsis. Hence, if an infection does not respond to antibiotics, the implant may have to be removed.
9-Inflammation
Inflammation is swelling and redness that occurs in response to an infection or injury. It is vital to inform your doctor about any inflammation that occurs following implant placement. This can help them quickly identify the cause of the inflammation and treat you accordingly.
10-Displacement
Sometimes, the implant shifts from correct position in the breast. This can happen at the time of surgery or afterwards. This shifting in position can be caused by gravity, trauma to the chest or capsular contracture.
11-Extrusion
This occurs when the skin around the implant breaks down and the implant appears through the skin. This can be due to capsular contracture, breast atrophy or a traumatic event to the chest. In such cases, the implant is usually removed by the surgeon, to avoid further complications
References:
Sánchez Rubio N, Lannegrand Menéndez B, Duque Muñoz M, Montes Fernández M, Ciudad Fernández MJ. Uncommon complications of breast prostheses. Radiologia (Engl Ed). 2020 Jul-Aug;62(4):266-279. English, Spanish. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32273126/#:~:text=However%2C%20the%20increasingly%20growing%20number,some%20cases%20can%20extend%20beyond . Accessed on 26-08-2021.
Pool SMW, Wolthuizen R, Mouës-Vink CM. Silicone breast prostheses: A cohort study of complaints, complications, and explantations between 2003 and 2015. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2018 Nov;71(11):1563-1569. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30172729/. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
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F.C. Iwuagwu, J.D. Frame, Silicone breast implants: complications, British Journal of Plastic Surgery, Volume 50, Issue 8, 1997, Pages 632-636, ISSN 0007- 1226. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007122697905099. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
N. Sánchez Rubio, B. Lannegrand Menéndez, M. Duque Muñoz, M. Montes Fernández, M.J. Ciudad Fernández, Uncommon complications of breast prostheses, Radiología (English Edition), Volume 62, Issue 4, 2020, Pages 266-279, ISSN 2173- 5107. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2173510720300434. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
Breast implants. Radiopaedia. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/breast-implants. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
Breast Implant Reconstruction Risks and Complications. Breastcancer.org. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/implants/risks. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
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