Myth Busters: Clearing Up the Fiction over Breast Implants

Maybe you want to look good in that bathing suit. Or maybe you want to boost your self-confidence heading into the warm summer months when more attention is paid to a woman’s figure. Or maybe you’re just looking for a change in your body shape.

Whatever the reason for a breast augmentation, there are still misconceptions surrounding the procedure, despite it being one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed in the country.

Dr. Samina Wahhab of Allentown, who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, took time out of her schedule to clear up some of the misinformation around breast augmentation.

Myth: My friend had breast augmentation. If I get the same implant, I’ll get a similar result.

Each woman’s body is different and there are many factors that have an impact on the final result of the procedure including your health before surgery, your size, the condition of your skin and where the implant is placed.

Myth: Breast augmentation corrects severely drooping breasts.

The procedure itself won’t correct this issue, but if you want your breasts to look fuller and be lifted, a breast lift may also have to be done, Wahhab says. Your doctor can explain your specific options to you.

 Myth: Everybody will know I had plastic surgery.

Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance — and give a boost to your self-confidence in the process — but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a drastic change that people would notice.

Myth: I’ll be left with obvious scars.

“Every effort will be made to assure that the incision is placed so the resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible,” Wahhab says. The incision is typically made just under the breast in a natural skin crease and once the scars are fully healed, they are barely visible. During the surgery, the surgeon will lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath your chest wall muscle, called the pectoral muscle. The implants are then centered beneath your nipples.

 Myth: Breast implants always look fake.

Most women are looking for a fairly natural look and not an overly augmented appearance and with the current variety in implant styles and shapes, this is readily accomplished.

Myth: Breast implants need to be replaced every 10 years.

Although implants cannot be considered “lifetime” devices, there is no specificschedule for implant replacement.

The Morning Call