Side Effects Of Silicone Implants: Is It Worth The Risk?
As with any surgery, side effects can occur due to the surgical procedure. The side effects of silicone implants are risks that should be discussed in depth with a certified plastic surgeon. Some of the side effects of silicone implants are serious risks, while some are general risks that may be inconvenient but not necessarily dangerous.
A rupture is one of the side effects of silicone implants that is also a risk in saline implants. A rupture can be accompanied by symptoms such as pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, tenderness, uneven appearance, hard lumps or decreased size of the implants. Other ruptures, known as silent ruptures, have no outward symptoms. A rupture requires immediate removal and possible replacement of the breast implant.
No silicone implants last forever. For this reason, multiple surgeries is one of the side effects of silicone implants. Either removal or replacement of an implant requires surgery which increases your chances of complications and future ruptures. There are several reasons for removal or replacement of an implant, such as rupture, capsular contracture, shifting of implant or infection. All of these are also side effects of silicone implants.
Infection is one of the side effects of silicone implants that also pertain to all surgical procedures, especially any procedure that places a foreign object into the human body. Risk of infection is increased in the event that an implant ruptures. Getting an MRI on a regular basis is recommended for all patients who have silicone implants so that ruptures and leaks can be found faster and reduce the risk of serious infections. One of the more serious side effects of silicone implants is the difficulty is performing an accurate mammogram safely. Mammograms are used to detect breast cancer in women, so they are very important to your health. However, the pressure of a mammogram can cause silicone implants to rupture or leak. Special techniques can be utilized to check for breast cancer on patients with silicone implants, but their exposure to radiation will be higher than that of a regular mammogram examination. Capsular contracture is another of the side effects of silicone implants that is duplicated in saline implants. Capsular contracture is when the scar tissue of the breast tightens around the implant and the result can be a hard and painful implant. The tissue contraction can also cause the breasts to become abnormally shaped. Capsular contracture is not a dangerous risk, but it will almost inevitably require additional surgery which increases your risk of future complications. Other side effects of silicone implants might include shifting of implants, changes or loss of sensitivity in breast or nipple, calcium deposits in the breast and hematoma. There are also the unknown risk factors to consider, such as a correlation between silicone implants and connective tissue diseases and increased risk of breast cancer. Talk to a certified plastic surgeon about all of the possible risks associated with silicone implants before deciding whether or not they are the right choice for you.
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