CosBeauty Magazine #77

Feature
redness at the site, fatigue and fever.
Increased pain and swelling are also
typical signs of infection but, because
these symptoms are typical of all
breast surgeries, they can be difficult
to detect.
RIPPLING
Rippling occurs when the filling
inside the breast implant moves,
creating a winkle or fold on the outer
shell of the implant which then
can be felt by the patient, or which
becomes outwardly visible. Rippling
can also occur when adhesion to the
envelope restricts its movement.
Various factors govern the
likelihood of rippling, including the
implant type, texture and position.
It occurs less with silicone gel-filled
implants, smooth-surfaced implants
and those that are positioned under
the chest muscle.
If it occurs, the appearance of
rippling is dependent on the patient
– their physique and the thickness
and quality of their skin. If there is
little muscle or fatty tissue to cover
the implant, any rippling that results
will be more noticeable. Rippling
generally appears on the outer and
bottom sides of the breast and in
the cleavage.
IMPLANT
DISPLACEMENT
Displacement refers to the implants
moving out of their desired position,
and is more prone in women who
have teardrop-shaped or very
high-profile implants. Displacement
may occur due to the implant being
misplaced in the tissue pocket, or
from excessively stretched tissue,
or trauma. Displacement can occur
at any time after the procedure,
and will generally need to be
surgically corrected.
INTERFERENCE
WITH
MAMMograPHY
Depending on where the implant
is placed, breast augmentation may
interfere with the ability of an x-ray
to ‘see’ all the breast tissue, and
therefore can hinder the success
of a mammogram. Women with
breast implants should therefore
choose a facility that has technicians
experienced in obtaining reliable
mammograms from those who have
had breast augmentation.
Repeated studies have shown
there is no delay in the diagnosis
of breast cancer in women with
breast implants compared to women
without implants.
Women should inform technicians
of the age of their implants before
mammography, as the age of the
implant increases the risk of rupture
during mammography.
Recently, there have been reports
media about a rare type of cancer
linked to breast implants: anaplastic
large cell carcinoma (ALCL).
Breast-implant associated ALCL
is not the same as breast cancer;
it is a rare type of lymphoma that
develops in the fluid surrounding
breast implants, not in the breast
tissue itself.
Current expert opinion is that the
risk of contracting breast-implant
associated ALCL is about one in
5,000 women with implants. By
comparison, the risk of breast cancer
is one in eight.
The majority of cases are cured
with the removal of implants and
the fibrous capsule around them from
both breasts.
If there are changes in your breasts
associated with breast implants and
especially if there is general swelling
or a lump, contact your specialist for
further investigation. CBM
Questions
to ask
yourself
before
surgery
By answering these questions
honestly and reviewing them
with your doctor, you will become
much clearer about whether
breast surgery is a good choice
for you psychologically and
emotionally.
Why do you want to have breast
augmentation surgery?
How do you feel about your body
image right now?
Is anyone prompting you to have
the surgery?
Do you suffer from an emotional
or psychological disorder?
Did you recently experience a
stressful even or crisis, like
a divorce or the loss of a
loved one?
Are you a perfectionist, and do
you find minor flaws with many
parts of your body and with
your life?
Would you be prepared
to handle a complication
if something goes wrong
after surgery?
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