Virtually every surgery has a certain amount of risk. The risks associated with breast augmentation, like many surgeries, are increased in patients that are not in good health. If your breast augmentation procedure is being performed with general anesthesia then the overall risk is higher. If you smoke, you may be required to stop for a period of time before and after surgery. If you have any coexisting medical conditions, especially diabetes, cardiovascular disease or diseases that affect wound healing, you may not be able to have breast augmentation surgery until these diseases are well under control. Surgeons and anesthesiologists may choose not to perform this elective surgery if the risk is too great.

 

Breast augmentation is safely performed in thousands of patients each year. However there are some risks associated with the procedure. Bleeding and infection can occur with any surgery. Patients may permanently lose sensation in the breast, especially at the nipple. Your body will respond to the placement of the foreign breast implant by creating a walled area and around it. In some people, this thickness of this wall is considerable and creates the feeling of “hard” breasts. Unfortunately, it is not possible to accurately predict to what degree this will occur.

 

Some years ago there was a fear that if silicone implants were to leak they would cause significant scarring and irreversible health problems. In 2006, after extensive research and study of the matter the Food and Drug Administration concluded that silicone containing implants posed no increased threat to the health and well-being of patients who have this type of implant. While surveillance studies continue, there is no evidence that silicone implants from approved manufacturers lead to previously identified health problems. You should discuss the risks and benefits of breast augmentation surgery with your plastic surgeon.