Breast Augmentation Surgery

Potential Complications

Complications that could occur include, but are not limited to, asymmetry, breast pain, tissue atrophy, calcification, chest wall deformity, delayed healing, hematoma, infection (including Toxic Shock Syndrome), inflammation, leaking of implant, displacement, tissue death, loss of sensation, scarring, hardening of breast tissue, and wrinkling. Excessive bleeding is also sometimes experienced, necessitating another operation to control the hemorrhaging.

If a perforation occurs in the shell of the implant it must be removed. If a perforation occurs in a saline filled implant, the body simply absorbs the fluid. But a break in a gel-filled implant is more serious, and one of several things could occur. Silicone gel could move into surrounding tissue, or gel could collect in the breast and cause a new scar to form around it. Gel could also migrate to another area of the body.

Both types of breaks might require a second operation and replacement of the leaking implant. Even then, it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel in the breast tissue.

Possible Long Term Complications

A few women with implants have reported symptoms of immune system diseases such as scleroderma and other arthritis-like conditions. This might include joint pain and swelling, fever, fatigue, or breast pain. But, research has thus far found no clear link between silicone implants and what doctors refer to as “connective tissue disorders.”

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