Breast augmentation surgery is becoming a more and more accepted procedure. These days, it seems like every woman’s doing it and no one woman is ashamed. Of course, there is no reason to be ashamed. The decision to have breast augmentation surgery is a highly personal one that not everyone will understand, but if you are doing it for you – to make yourself happy – then no one needs to understand but you. Chances are you are making the right decision. Or are you? Before making a final decision, please consider these health and financial implications.

Of course, you’ve probably already researched all the physical complications that arise out of breast augmentation surgery. There are the usual risks associated with any surgery – excessive bleeding, anesthetic reaction and infection – and then there are the risks associated with specifically with breast augmentation surgery. There is swelling, scarring, stretch marks, itching, breakage, leakage, hardening, tissue necrosis, calcification and fibromyalgia in the breasts. Some women develop rheumatologic and neurological symptoms or chronic flu symptoms. Bacteria and mold can grow in saline implants.

Aside from these complications, pain can become a major issue for women who have had breast augmentation surgery. Many women describe the pain immediately after the surgery as worse than childbirth. Generally, the pain subsides after few weeks, but some women continue to experience extreme pain and discomfort. Nipples, if they don’t lose sensation, can become hypersensitive, even making it difficult to wear clothing. The scar tissue surrounding the implants themselves can harden and squeeze the implant, causing pain. Sometimes there is shooting pain down the arms and chronic aches in the chest, back and arm areas (fibromyalgia).

It is true that breast implants do not cause breast cancer. Again, breast implants do not cause cancer. However, they do make it more difficult to detect breast cancer. Implants interfere with mammograms and digital exams. Further, women who have undergone breast augmentation surgery are more likely to have calcification in their breasts, which can confuse breast exam results. If you do get implants, always alert your physician before he or she performs a breast examination on you.

There are important financial factors to consider before undergoing breast augmentation surgery. The surgery is not cheap – usually a couple thousand U.S. dollars – and it is not covered by private health insurance. Aside from the initial cost, breast implants are only designed to have a life span of about 10 years. They must be periodically replaced, and MRIs are required to determine when (unless, of course, you are alerted to the need for a replacement for the rapidly decreasing size of one or both breasts – don’t laugh, it does happen). Replacement surgeries are more complicated and expensive than the original surgeries and private health insurance usually doesn’t cover them either, even if the implant is ruptured or leaking.

Plastic surgeons often tell women considering breast augmentation that if they aren’t happy with the results of the surgery, they can always have the breasts removed. This is true, but if you don’t like the way your breasts look before breast augmentation surgery, you are definitely not going to like them afterwards. Of course, your natural breasts will be even more saggy and may bear stretch marks – basically you will have prematurely aged your breasts. This may all be related to the most worrisome consequence of breast augmentation surgery: suicide. Several studies have shown that women with breast implants are at least three times more likely to commit suicide than women who have not.

There are many, many women who undergo breast augmentation surgery and are perfectly happy with it. To increase your odds of success, be sure you know exactly what you’re getting into with breast augmentation surgery – both the pros and the cons.

The Basics of Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Before and Afters of Breast Augmentation: Pre-op and Post-op Tips the Doctor Probably Won’t Tell You

Breast Enlargement Pump: A Non-Invasive Alternative to Breast Enhancement Surgery?

Augmentation Mammoplasty: What You Need to Know to Prepare for Breast Implant Surgery

Breast Reconstruction Complications