The Most Common Misconceptions About Breast Augmentation in Toronto

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

Chances are if you’ve been reading about breast augmentation in Toronto, you’ve come across some disturbing and even contradictory anecdotes. While all cosmetic surgery carries inherent risks to be aware of, a few myths floating around cause unnecessary concern, and today we’ll debunk them.

Media coverage about breast enhancement surgery has increased in recent years with the explosion of social media, amateur reporting and of course, the increasing popularity of this procedure. It can be increasingly difficult to track down reliable, science-based information when planning your own augmentation. Let’s identify a few commonly held beliefs that are unfactual so you can have peace of mind about your breast augmentation.

Myth: Your Breast Implants Must Be Changed Every Ten Years

This is false. Medical, prosthetic devices are not guaranteed to last forever, so it is realistic to expect replacement at some point in your lifetime. However, there’s absolutely no indication to remove or replace breast implants at ten years, in the absence of any medical complication or rupture. While ruptures do happen, new generation implants are engineered to be extremely durable and can last decades or even a lifetime with no issues. Regular breast exams and imaging are recommended in some cases, especially as you age and if you feel breast tissue changes over time.

Myth: Breast Implants Cause Autoimmune Disease

Anecdotal reports can do a lot of damage today because many members of the public don’t know how to identify research findings backed by science, as opposed to opinion and guesswork. Correlative findings are often presented as causative. Some patients report the development of a wide variety of health problems following breast augmentation surgery, yet studies involving hundreds of thousands of people with implants have not concluded a connection between modern implants and any autoimmune diseases. Breast cancer rates are likewise not found to be higher in breast implant patients.Recently, a very rare type of lymphoma (BIA-ALCL – Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma), has been connected primarily with textured implants. In the few cases found, it usually presented as a late fluid seroma and treatment consisted of surgical implant and capsule removal.Unfortunately, fear-based coincidence stories are often shared without proper evidence. It’s understandable that people worry about health and want to know what their risks are. We recommend you ask your plastic surgeon for a detailed understanding of the risks and considerations when planning your breast augmentation in Toronto, but keep in mind that millions of women today have breast implants and of these numbers, some will happen to develop health issues for other reasons.

Myth: You Can’t Breastfeed If You Have Implants

Many Toronto breast augmentation patients are aged 20- 30, so they most certainly become pregnant and will often breastfeed with no issues. You can expect the breasts to change in shape or size during pregnancy which may affect surgery results, however, unless milk ducts are severed, there should be no interference. Plastic surgeons will often choose an incision technique that avoids interfering with the areola or nipple completely if they know the patient would like to breastfeed. We position implants under the breast tissue, and they don’t communicate with the milk in any way.

Myth: Anyone Can Have Breasts As Big As They Want

Today’s breast implant dimensions and volumes offer so much customizable variety that virtually any frame or aesthetic goal can be matched. There are some limitations, however.

Your existing chest and breast dimensions, skin/tissue coverage for the implant, and nipple position will all influence results. If the tissue is thin, palpable implant edges may be felt and seen, creating a very unnatural look. The weight of implants in high volumes can place a significant strain on skin as well. For some people who have a narrow chest and small breast base or low nipples, inserting a too-big implant can lead to deformation.If you want to go big or go home, we recommend you share your goals with your plastic surgeon and trust their medical and artistic expertise when they suggest the largest, reasonable size for your body.If you have additional questions or concerns, we welcome you to contact the experts at Edelstein Cosmetic, and we’ll be happy to answer them.