Breast augmentation – is bigger always better?

Every year, hundreds of thousands of women make the decision to have the number one cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States which is breast augmentation.  This popular and accepted form of plastic surgery is meant to enhance the size, shape and overall appearance of a woman’s breasts.  According to the Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, in 2017, there were 300,378 “breast aug” or “boob jobs” performed that involved using breast implants to increase the size and or fullness of a woman’s breasts.  This statistic was up by 3 percent from 2016.

Who is seeking out breast augmentation?

The average woman who undergoes breast augmentation is in her mid-30s, married or in a long-term relationship and has some college education.  Many of these women are dissatisfied in how they look naked or how their clothes fit and want to feel better about themselves.  Apparently they believe bigger breasts are the answer to their breast size woes as the average implant size is a C cup equivalent to the size of a grapefruit.  According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 92 percent of women who underwent the procedure would recommend it and 82 percent reported improvement in their self-confidence.

The influence of breast augmentation

Breast augmentation has largely been influenced throughout the years by the standards of what pop culture and Hollywood has defined as beautiful breasts.  The history of breast augmentation has had its ups and downs over the years – in the late 90s and early 2000s, bigger and bolder breasts were all the rage.  Think of celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Heidi Montag, or Victoria Beckham who proudly showed off their overly-inflated, augmented breasts for the world to see.  In recent years, the trend of big breasts has deflated in which women are now favoring and requesting a more natural and normal-looking breast size and shape.

Whatever the reason why a woman chooses to have breast augmentation, she needs to consider her motive of why she is considering this surgery.  It is a very popular procedure often fueled in part by many women seeking the “perfect body.”  With the frequency of how often this operation is performed, what are the real risks involved?  Do the benefits of breast implants outweigh the possible consequences? 

Pros of breast implants

Every woman will have her own personal reasons why she wants breast augmentation.  Here are some pros of the procedure a woman can usually expect:

·      Improved appearance – During a woman’s life, the appearance of her breasts can and will change due to life experiences - pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss and gain, and gravity are some examples influencing the size and shape of a woman’s breast overtime. 

Usually breast implants’ purpose is to increase the size and fullness of the breasts as well as correct any physical flaws.  Physical flaws might include uneven breast size, nipple abnormalities, and enhancing the overall appearance of the breasts. 

·      Improve self-confidence – Most women choose breast augmentation because of their dissatisfaction with the appearance of their natural breasts. Increases in self-image and self-confidence can be greatly improved for women when they have this cosmetic procedure.

·      The procedure is safe and fast – The surgery itself is relatively simple and safe and typically does not require an overnight hospital stay.  Compared to other surgical procedures, the cost is relatively reasonable with costs varying among states.

Cons of breast implants

All surgeries carry risks including the surgery of breast implants.  This decision is extremely personal and women need to carefully weigh how important it is to them to have this procedure by weighing the potential benefits in achieving their goal with the risk and potential complications of breast augmentation. 

Here are some possible breast augmentation surgery risks which include the following:

·      Anesthesia risks

·      Changes in nipple or breast sensation

·      Thinning and shrinking of the skin

·      Incision sites that fail to heal normally or take a long time to heal

·      Development of a hematoma which is a collection of blood near the surgical site

·      Inflammation or infection causing redness, swelling, warmth, and pain

·      Faulty positioning of the implant

·      Implant leakage or rupture

·      A woman’s body may reject the implant causing severe medical problems

·      Wrinkling of skin over the implant

·      Persistent pain

·      Possibility of removal of the implants in the future – as many as 20 percent of women with breast implants have to have their implants removed within 8 to 10 years due to complications.

In conclusion

Any woman considering breast implant surgery needs to carefully weight her options.  She needs to understand her own personal expectations and reasons for wanting the surgery.  Talking to other women who have had the procedure would be very helpful in making her decision – what was their experience like after the surgery and would they do it again?  Finding an experienced and reputable plastic surgeon a woman feels comfortable with who listens and answers all questions thoroughly is also important. 

Here is information all women considering breast augmentation should read before undergoing the procedure – ‘Things to consider before you get breast implants.’  The more a woman knows about this cosmetic procedure, the more likely she’ll make the right decision for her.