If you’re thinking about getting breast implants, it’s a big decision and one you should research thoroughly. The trouble is that some of the information you’ll find online has not been written by cosmetic surgeons and is not always accurate. People also ask friends and family for advice, and while the information they receive is well-intentioned, it’s not always factually correct, and that can lead to some common boob job myths.
At Enhance Medical Group, we want you to make this important decision based on hard facts, which is why we offer a free consultation so you can find out more. We’ve also asked one of our highly qualified and fully licensed surgeons about a few common boob job myths so you know exactly what to expect.
Myth: Bigger implants will give me perkier breasts
FACT: Some people think that with implants, bigger is better. The reality is that placing a large implant on a person with a small, narrow frame can look out of proportion and the the edge of the implant may even be visible. Implants that are too large for your frame can also put extra strain on your breast tissue, which increases the likelihood of sagging.
Our surgeons recommend implants for each patient depending on the results they can achieve and the impact they’ll have over the longer term. Rather than using a bigger implant, a smaller implant with a greater projection, or choosing a MemoryGel Xtra implant, could help you achieve a perkier result.
If you want to fix saggy breasts, breast implants in isolation may not be the best solution. We may suggest a breast lift to remove extra skin, tighten the surrounding skin and give your breasts a perkier, more youthful appearance. You can combine a breast lift with implants if you’d also like to increase your breast size.
Myth: You can’t breastfeed with breast implants
FACT: Having worries about whether you can breastfeed with implants is perfectly understandable. However, the reality is that breast augmentation does not affect your ability to breastfeed your child.
A major study of more than 3,500 women who breastfed their children after having breast augmentation surgery found that 80% were able to do so successfully. The most common complication was an insufficient milk supply, and that occurs at the same rate in women who haven’t had implants. Therefore, if you were able to breastfeed before breast augmentation, you should have no problems doing so afterwards.
Whether you plan to breastfeed after the augmentation is something we’ll ask you about during the consultation. We can make incisions in the armpit or beneath the breast rather than around the areola to reduce the risk of nerves or milk ducts being severed. That will maximise milk supply and maintain nipple sensation.
Read more: Can I breastfeed with implants?
Myth: I won’t need to wear a bra once I’ve had breast implants
FACT: It’s perfectly understandable if you want to celebrate the results of your breast augmentation by going braless, but for the most part, you should still wear a bra every day.
To maintain optimum results after your surgery, you should wear a supportive post-operative bra, which most women have to wear for six weeks. After that point, you should continue to wear a bra – make sure it has plenty of support when exercising – to reduce the impact of gravity.
We advise our patients not to go braless for the first six months at all after surgery, and then to save going braless for those special nights out.
Myth: Breast implants have to be replaced after 10 years
FACT: According to the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, only one in five patients have some sort of revision procedure, including an implant replacement, after 10 years. The average saline or silicone implant can last up to 20 years.
We advise our patients that if you’re not experiencing any discomfort, pain or other issues, you can keep the same implants for longer than 10 years. However, we do advise you to have regular MRI scans, mammograms or sonograms to check the implants during this time. You should also get them checked as soon as you feel any pain.
Myth: Breast implants cause cancer
FACT: An analysis of 10 studies has found that neither saline nor silicone breast implants appear to be linked to an increase in cancer. In fact, some of the studies found the opposite – that women with implants had a decreased risk of cancer. However, that’s likely to be linked to traits in women who get breast implants (such as being a healthy weight) rather than the implants themselves.
There is a link between textured implants and a cancer called anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). Around one in every 50,000 women with textured silicone implants gets this disease. It is called breast implant-associated ALCL when it occurs in women with breast implants and it is very treatable. Around 93% of people diagnosed with BIA-ALCL are still disease-free three years after treatment.
Myth: All breast implants look fake
FACT: Most women want their breast implants to be as natural looking as possible, but some actively seek a fake look. Implants that are overly round, are too large for a woman’s body type or are positioned high on the chest tend to look fake.
For natural-looking implants, choosing the right size and shape for your frame is essential. In terms of the shape, teardrop implants are narrower at the top and fuller at the bottom, which gives them a more natural and subtle appearance. When it comes to the size, that depends on the natural base of the breast. As an example, a woman with a B cup could go to a natural-looking D cup. However, a D cup on a woman with a natural A cup may look more fake.
There are also other considerations, such as where we place the implant (under or on top of the chest muscle) and the type of implant we use (saline or silicone).
All your questions answered
If you have any other questions about boob jobs, whether it’s ‘What type of implants are right for me?’ or ‘What can I expect from the procedure?’, please do not hesitate to ask. We prefer to give you the facts firsthand so you don’t run the risk of reading misinformation online. Find out more about breast surgery with Enhance Medical Group and contact our team to book your free, no-obligation consultation.