Breast augmentation, or breast implant surgery, can be performed on women ages 18 years and up. There may be special circumstances where breast augmentation in women younger than age 18 would be appropriate, including asymmetric (uneven) breasts and psychological considerations. Breast implant surgery can be considered before having children or when no further pregnancies are planned. Breastfeeding is usually possible after breast augmentation. Many older women consider breast implants as a way to regain a more youthful appearance when their breasts begin to lose volume and sag.

Breast augmentation is very safe; however, it is still possible to experience complications. These complications include:

• Bleeding or hematoma
• Infection
• Loss of nipple sensation, which can be temporary or permanent
• Temporary hypersensitivity
• Implant complications such as deflation or capsular contracture

Complications with your breast implant(s) can occur at any time after your augmentation surgery.

Some of these complications include:

• Implant deflation, where inner implant material comes out from the silicone shell. When a saline implant leaks, the saline (saltwater) comes out and is absorbed by the body. When a cohesive silicone implant leaks, the silicone stays in place and is not absorbed by the body. However, it is safe and does not cause you any harm. Any implant that is deflated or ruptured needs to be replaced.
• Capsular contracture, where the soft tissue capsule around the implant becomes thick and hard. If this occurs, you may need to have additional surgery to remove the capsule.

If you experience a complication with your implant, you will need to undergo breast implant replacement or breast revision. Usually, the same incision (transaxillary, crease, or periareolar) can be used, which allows for breast revision to be much less involved and less painful.

Your implants will come with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, but many women choose to purchase an upgraded warranty as well.

No one can tell you how long your implants will last, but you should anticipate that you will need to replace your implants at some point. While some women need to replace their implants after five years, others keep theirs for over 20; the time is variable with each patient, with the average being about 10 years.

After breast implant surgery, you and your primary doctor should still be able to perform breast exams properly. Breast mammograms may still be performed routinely as a screening tool. Occasionally, a breast ultrasound or breast MRI may be recommended to fully examine the breasts with implants.

Breast augmentation with implants restores cup size and volume in the breasts after pregnancy or weight loss. Women who also have excessive loose skin may benefit from breast lift surgery to improve sagging breasts, as breast implants alone may not correct the loose skin. Many women choose to combine breast augmentation with breast lift to enhance their breast size as well as tighten and elevate their breasts.

Breast augmentation can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. To make the most of your procedure, you need to be honest with yourself and your plastic surgeon and be realistic about your goals and wishes.

Before your consultation and procedure, you should:

• Read about the procedure and learn about its benefits and risks
• Use your judgment and don’t trust everything you read on the internet—while there is a lot of useful information about breast augmentation, there is also misinformation, myths, and biases
• Understand how your current breast situation and certain factors can affect your overall results, such as little or no breast tissue, breast droop, poor skin tone, and noticeably uneven breasts
• Plan sufficient time to heal; if you are planning towards an important event, have your surgery at least a one month before the event
• Be open with Dr. Lo and ask any questions that you may be confused about

Some women with breast implants report experiencing a variety of symptoms collectively
called breast implant illness (BII). The symptoms may include fatigue, rash, joint pain, hormonal problems, and neurological and other issues. These symptoms cannot be explained by known
medical conditions or abnormal blood tests. Some women will have their breast implants removed and experience relief from their symptoms. Breast implant illness is an uncommon
condition and is not clearly understood. Research is continuing into this condition.

There are two rare conditions called breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and breast implant associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC) that are cancers
that can develop around a breast implant. These rare conditions are not fully understood but are being investigated. For more information, please visit the FDA website. Dr. Lo continues to
monitor any new information and updates his patients as necessary about these rare conditions.

Before choosing your plastic surgeon for breast augmentation, you should consider the following:

• Is your surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)?
• How often does your surgeon perform breast augmentation?
• Does your plastic surgeon offer multiple incision and implant options?
• Does your plastic surgeon listen to and understand your goals and objectives?
• Do the surgeon’s before and after photos show the results you want for yourself?
• Do you feel comfortable with your plastic surgeon?

Dr. Adrian Lo is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a top breast specialist in Philadelphia, PA, Marlton and Cherry Hill, NJ, and the surrounding suburbs. Dr. Lo is highly accomplished in all breast augmentation techniques, including the periareolar and inframammary approaches, and he has expertise in transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation.

Go to Dr. Lo’s Before & After Breast Augmentation Photos