General breast implant risks continued – rippling and other risks

Breast Implant Rippling

This is more of a cosmetic risk but is one of the complaints most likely to cause dissatisfaction with the procedure. Saline implants, much more so that silicone implants, can ripple to a degree that is palpable to the touch and visible in some cases.

Rippling looks like someone had their fingers on the breast and left indentations. It is not a permanent rippling in most cases but a ripple occasionally as the implant moves and literally ripples, giving the skin a wave-like appearance instead of the smoothness you see in a normal breast. Many women can feel a degree of rippling along the bottom of the implant that is not visible.

According to a survey commissioned by implant manufacturers in 1994, of the women that were dissatisfied with their implants, 12% were dissatisfied with them because of rippling (the largest complaint was that they were two small (18%)). Visible rippling is more likely to occur if implants are placed above the muscle, especially in women with little or no tissue coverage. Textured implants may increase this risk in above muscle placement because of the way tissue adheres to the textured surface. Women with severe rippling may be candidates for the use of silicone implants, which are less likely to cause visible rippling.

Other Risks for Breast Augmentation Patients

Other known risks include the possible need for additional surgeries, infection at the site of implant, hematoma (blood that collects and needs to be drained) and delayed wound healing. You should not expect the implants to last a lifetime. Even the package insert will tell you that these should not be considered lifetime devices.

Implant longevity is discussed at length in the IOM report linked to in my Resources section. However, since I launched this site nearly two years ago, I have heard from women who have had implants for 25 years and those who had to have them redone after a problem which occurred much sooner than five years. Just be sure you can accept the fact that another surgery is likely at some point in the future.

Smoking

Smoking may interfere with the healing process. Necrosis, or death of tissue near the implant, can occur in anyone with implants. However, smokers a much higher risk of this, according to the manufacturers’ study findings.

Next Stop: Breast Implant Sizes