When Breast Implants Go Horribly Wrong!

In a society obsessed with perfection and instant gratification, breast implants have become the most widely accepted solution amongst women who want bigger breasts. The results are immediate and, if successful, very aesthetically appealing. The high cost of surgery and the potential dangers involved with such procedures are overlooked by the greater need to improve one's appearance and self-confidence.

I am all for self-improvement, but I do have to wonder how much one actually weighs the negative factors of breast surgery against the positive before finally deciding to go ahead with the procedure. It's not to say that all breast surgeries have the potential to go wrong, but that risk factor is definitely there. Breast implants, as with every type of surgery, involves the possibility of scarring and infection. More seriously, it is also possible for breast implants to hide clusters of cancer cells, making detection more difficult. These are probably the most commonly known side effects that people are already aware of.

I came across a site called Silicone Holocaust (http://www.siliconeholocaust.org) which graphically illustrates what can go wrong with breast implants. Indeed, severe disfigurement is also a very real possibility. Anyone considering implants should visit this site and truly question whether it is all worth the risk. The pictures you will see here are certainly different from any before and after photos presented at a breast enlargement clinic.

Furthermore, a prevalent number of women are actually opting to take their breast implants out due to ailments attributed to their breast implants. "Syndromes Associated with Silicone Breast Implants: A Clinical Study and Review," by Arthur Dale Ericsson MD (http://www.siliconebreastimplant.homestead.com/Syndromes.html), is an essential reading source on this topic. Some of the most common complication with implants seems to be capsular contracture (which is when the scar tissue surrounding the implant hardens) and implant rupture resulting in silicone leakage. Some women have also been subject to autoimmune disorders during the period they had breast implants, early symptoms of which can include "fatigue and tiredness, muscle weakness, body aches and pains, morning stiffness of the joints, joint pain and skin rashes." It has been reported that patients experienced an improvement from their symptoms after the removal of their breast implant.

All this may sound highly unlikely and you might be thinking, "This couldn't possibly happen to me!" But you owe it yourself to investigate further. Make some enquiries on breast implant support forums - you will find that there are quite a few out there - where real women have actually experienced the physical and emotional trauma of breast implants gone wrong. Just imagine if this happened to you ...