Four Breast Augmentation Myths to Say Goodbye To!

In days gone by if you were to decide to get breast augmentation it would be big news in the circle you live, work and socialize in. However times have changed and today the desire to have a breast enhancement procedure is not big news because so many other women are doing it too!

When you tell others that you are thinking about getting breast augmentation (also sometimes referred to as breast implants) you will be in for an earful because everyone you speak with will have a story about their experiences or the experiences of someone else they know. Once you start being barraged with stories, comments, and anecdotes it can be difficult to know what is completely true, what is a half truth and what things you have been told are total misconceptions about the procedure.

What you need to do is get the myths out of the way concerning breast augmentation in order to be able to see the truth as it really is. The truth being that augmentation is a safe procedure that rarely leads to any serious complications. Here are four myths about augmentation that you need to dispense with right away.

One of the most widely circulated myths about breast augmentation is that it will lead to cancer. No, it will not. There has been no medical or scientific evidence to date that having an augmentation procedure will lead to the development of cancer. While there has been some controversy in the past regarding the implants that are fashioned out of a silicone gel, all of the implants used on patients today have been deemed safe by the FDA.

Another common myth is that implants are age specific and are only suitable for young women. A woman in her 20s can have implants as easily as a woman in her 30s or 40s can, or even a woman in her 50s. Your age is not the deciding factor in whether you would make a good candidate for implants or not. It is important however that you discuss all of the details of the surgery with the doctor before you decide to go through with it.

A third myth about breast augmentation is that implants will need to be replaced every 10 years (or thereabouts). While it is likely that your implants will need to be replaced at some point in time, this tends to vary from one person to another. Some patients need a replacement in a few years while others could go 15 to 20 years or more without needing a replacement. Depending upon the age you are when you have breast enhancement surgery, yours could last you a lifetime! This is often dependent upon the individual person as well as a number of other medical factors.

A fourth myth that you may have heard of is that you cannot have a mammography if you have implants. You can still have the test even if you have had augmentation. In fact every woman should have this test after the age of 40. Those who have had silicone implants often have very good results with mammograms because of the displacement technique which makes use of x-rays. This is much better for those with silicone implants than the compression means of performing a mammography.