Breast augmentation surgery is by far the most performed cosmetic surgery in the world. It is making up 17.6% of all plastic surgery procedures. There are two main reasons for women to have this surgery – they either want bigger breasts or they need their breasts reconstructed after breast cancer or some other condition. Whatever the reason is, getting breast implants is a very personal decision and should be made by the woman alone. So let’s see all the aspects of the procedure.

Should I get breast implants?

As it was said before, the decision to get it should be the woman’s alone. Your boyfriend is saying you should get it, but you love your boobs the way they are? You should not get the surgery. He should respect your decision and love you for you. No amount of big boobs is going to make a man stay in a relationship, there will always be someone with bigger ones. If he says he will break up with you unless you get it, that is a major red flag and you should consider ending the relationship.

Getting on a more positive note, there is nothing wrong with getting a “boob-job” just because you want bigger breasts. There are so many women, who are genetically given small breasts or who are feeling that after breastfeeding, their boobs have lost their former shine. It is completely normal to want to have a beautiful bosom to feel feminine and beautiful again. Having a small bust can also mean, that you are having trouble finding clothes. Especially dresses because they are made for certain body types.

Whether we like it or not, having a beautiful bust, makes women feel more feminine and confident. We have talked to so many women, who are having insecurities about their breasts and that is normal. There are also many women who love their boobs just the way they are, and that is great too! Here we try and give you all the information, so you can make an informed decision for yourself.

I have decided – where to start?

Firstly, you should do your research about every aspect that comes with it. Talk to the people you know, that have done the same surgery, google experiences, and of course, get a consultation from a doctor or two. People who have done the surgery can talk you through it and give recommendations. Just don’t take only one person’s experience and opinions to be the full truth about everything. Google will give you a lot of useful information, but also have some common sense. There can be a lot of misleading information, especially in forums.

The best place to have the full information will be the consultation at a clinic. We recommend getting the consultation from two to three different clinics, to get a full picture and make an informed decision. Also, breast implants are not a place to play cheaply. Going to the cheapest clinic, or to some other country, can have very bad consequences. Make sure the clinic that you chose, is providing premium health care and is at the top of its field. Implants, the surgery scars, and the experience will be with you for the rest of your life, so choose wisely.

* Since we are not medical experts, we cannot give out medical advice on which implants to use, or how to position the implant. Also because we are an international online magazine, we cannot give out recommendations about local clinics to go to. READ MORE about Breast Augmentation from the page of the American society of plastic surgeons.

Recovery from the surgery

Recovery from the surgery is very individual. As it is a surgery and rather invasive, the first few days are quite hard. Everything will be swollen and painful, but that will pass soon, and in a few weeks, you might not even remember it. In the first 6 weeks, it is not recommended to lift anything heavy or exercise. It is important to give your body time to heal and take it easy, even if you feel fine. Taking your daily walks is still recommended, but listen to your body.

The second very important thing to do is wear your support bra for as long as the doctor said! Make sure that you set your new breasts evenly in the support bra every time. The surgeon can do so much, but when you don’t take the recovery and support bra seriously, your breasts or nipples can end up on uneven height.

The stitches will heal in about 2 weeks and if taken care of properly, will only leave a small scar. During those few weeks, you should not go to swimming, sauna, or in a bathtub, as the wounds might get infected. The final results of the surgery can be seen in about 6 months. That is when the tissue and muscle around the implant have had the time to get used to the new form.

Can breast implants cause breast cancer?

Breast cancer and its connection with implants have been studied very thoroughly by researchers and so far no direct connection has been found. There are several myths that believe that silicone in the breast prevents the harder lumps of breast cancer from being felt. However, since the breast prosthesis is deeper than the mammary glands and presses the mammary gland against the skin from the inside, even very small tumorous nodules are much more noticeable. At the same time, a woman does not feel very deep cancerous nodes with or without a prosthesis. The fact is that breast prostheses themselves certainly do not hide anything and do not cause breast cancer.

In recent years, however, there has been more talk about lymph tissue cancer – lymphoma – that can develop inside the breast prosthesis capsule. Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is rare and current scientific research is aimed at fully identifying the disease. The spread of lymphoma can also be caused by genetic factors. Studies have shown that some geographic areas have a higher incidence of BIA-ALCL. For example, until now Australia and New Zealand have seen more cases of lymphoma than other countries.

BII – Breast Implant Disease

Breast implant illness (BII) is a term that some women and doctors use to refer to a wide range of symptoms that can develop after undergoing reconstruction or cosmetic augmentation with breast implants. It is also sometimes referred to as autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). BII can occur with any type of breast implant, including silicone gel-filled, saline-filled, smooth surface, textured surface, round, or teardrop-shaped. /Breastcancer.org/

The most common symptoms of BII are:

• Chronic fatigue and headaches
• Persistent joint and muscle pain
• Unexplained respiratory difficulties
• Hair loss and frequent skin rashes
• Chronically dry mouth and eyes
• Poor memory and concentration
• Depression, anxiety, and insomnia
  
  If you should experience any of those symptoms, before jumping to any conclusions, always consult your doctor. Awareness is being raised in this regard, but BII is not currently recognized as an official medical diagnosis and there is no diagnosis code for it. It is poorly understood and hasn’t been studied much as a unique condition. Much like with organ transplants, implants are a foreign object in the body and therefore, your body can reject them. Half of the body’s rejection is coming from the brain, so if you are not sure you want the implants, don’t get them until you are sure.

Every woman has the right to feel feminine and beautiful, whether it is with the help of breast implants or with what nature has given them. While some women have used huge implants for themselves, it might have painted a picture that this is what breast implants look like, which is not true. You can choose the size which satisfies you the most, whether it is a B-cup or a D-cup. As long as you feel complete and beautiful with yourself, that is all that matters.