There’s a lot of information online about breast augmentation — some is correct, but a lot isn’t. It’s important to understand what’s true and what’s false. Vancouver plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Pugash is a nationally acclaimed plastic surgeon who wants to dispel myths and offer facts. Here are six common misconceptions about this breast enhancement surgery that many women find useful in their research.
1. Only Vain Women Get Breast Implants
There are several reasons women choose to have breast augmentation. Some prefer the operation to balance body proportions, while others want to increase size. Some were born with uneven breasts and want this corrected. Others are hoping to feel sexier and more confident in their appearance. Whatever the reason, this aesthetic procedure is a personal choice each woman should make without worry about unnecessary judgments from others.
2. Breast Implants Are Dangerous
For decades, people have made the erroneous claim that breast implants are hazardous to a woman’s health. They cite autoimmune conditions or attribute cancer to these clinically tested devices. The truth is that there has been no scientific evidence that supports these claims. Researchers have conducted numerous studies with thousands of women using saline and silicone implants, and have found no substantiated assertions that they pose a danger to a woman’s health. Indeed, they have proven that breast augmentation does not increase the risk of breast cancer or cause autoimmune disease. Although, in rare cases, implants may rupture and leak, the material inside is not harmful. The body naturally absorbs saline, and having a ruptured silicone implant taken out safely removes all traces of the gel from your body.
3. Any Surgeon Can Perform Breast Augmentation
Although this may be true legally, not all surgeons specialize in the procedure. Only certified plastic surgeons have the training and expertise to perform this procedure with skill and safety.
4. Your Breasts Will Look Fake
A common misconception is that breast augmentation will result in breasts that look unnatural. Although there may have been some historical validity to this claim, there have been great advancements in surgical skills and implant technology. Now, with these modern devices taking the natural curvature of the breasts into account, and with advances in surgical techniques, the results are amazingly natural. Each year, breast implants have given hundreds of thousands of North American women beautiful breasts.
5. Recovery Is Painful
As with all surgeries, the incision areas and surrounding muscles will be sore after the operation. However, discomfort is easy to manage during a short recovery period of one to two weeks. Most patients rest comfortably as they heal with relative ease.
6. You Can’t Breastfeed With Implants
This is one of the most enduring misconceptions about breast augmentation. Breast implant surgery does not change a woman’s ability to breastfeed.
If you have any questions about breast augmentation, contact Dr. Pugash today to schedule a consultation.