Silicone breast implants are a hot topic when it comes to plastic surgery. Even if they have been used for decades for breast augmentation purposes, there is still a lot of debate around them, not to mention the myths that are seen by many as medical truth.
A common concern for women desiring to undergo breast augmentation with silicone implants is whether it affects a potential ulterior pregnancy in terms of the health of the mother and baby.
About silicone breast implants
When considering silicone breast implants, you should know that they are completely safe to use and also FDA-approved. There are different manufacturers offering silicone breast implants in multiple sizes, shapes, and texture of the capsule. The implants consist of a silicone capsule prefilled with a highly cohesive silicone gel. The new Gummy Bear implants, for example, have the benefit of never losing their shape, not even in the case of rupture or leaking. This means that the aesthetic appearance won’t be impacted by a potential trauma of the implants.
A rupture or leaking of the implant occurs only in extraordinary circumstances if high-quality implants have been used. This is why it is important to choose to work only with a board-certified plastic surgeon who uses the best quality materials available on the market.
But what happens if a rupture occurs during pregnancy? If your implants are of good quality, chances are it will be very difficult even to notice the leaking of the silicone gel unless you are having a breast scan or an MRI. Unlike with saline solution implants that are absorbed by the body and leaving the breasts looking empty or deflated, silicone implants won’t spill into the body. Due to the high cohesiveness of the gel used, the silicone will stay at the edge of the implant where the rupture occurred. The silicone gel won’t reach the blood stream causing clots or other complications. This is just a myth.
So even if the silicone implant ruptures, there is no imminent danger to the mother or the baby. The silicone used for these implants is a material used for different types of prostheses used in the medical world even for cardiologic interventions. This means that the body is accustomed to them on a certain level and no allergic reactions occur. Capsular contracture is not an allergic reaction of the body as many believe. It is a natural response of the body that will create a fibrous tissue around the implant after its insertion. The complications occur when this tissue hardens and deforms the shape of the breasts or causes pain.
So not only will your unborn baby be impacted in any way, but there are also no negative consequences for the baby who is breastfed by a mother with implants.
Another myth that I tend to hear a lot lately is that silicone can get into breast milk. Several studies have been performed to study this issue in different countries around the world, and the results are all the same: there is no difference between the breast milk of a woman with implants compared to a woman without implants. Technically speaking, it would be quite difficult for the silicone to get into the milk ducts, considering the fact that the implant is placed either behind or in front of the pectoral muscle. However, this doesn’t mean there are no changes to a woman’s breasts during an ulterior pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Consequences of pregnancy after breast augmentation
Pregnancy and breastfeeding trigger fluctuations of the breast size, shape, and consistency for a vast majority of women, even if it is something as simple as gaining weight during pregnancy or hormonal fluctuations. This means that an ulterior pregnancy can and will change the appearance of your breasts. If you have chosen big implants (over 350 ccs), chances are the breasts will increase their volume even more during pregnancy, leading to the overstretching of the ligaments holding them high on the chest wall. This is how breast ptosis occurs.
Breast ptosis is the medical term we use to define breasts that are droopy and saggy on the chest wall. The condition is accelerated by large breasts, mature age, and multiple pregnancies.
It is not uncommon for patients having breast augmentation surgery before having children to need additional plastic surgery procedures later on in life. It is only natural for your breasts to change with the changes of your body and the passing of time. This doesn’t mean that the results of breast augmentation with silicone implants can’t be permanent. But for this, the patient must take into consideration different recommendations such as to limit weight fluctuations or to avoid them completely.
Conclusion
Many women in their youth are interested in the breast augmentation procedure with silicone implants but are also worried that undergoing the procedure before having children can trigger a negative impact on the baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
As a rule of thumb, it is always a good idea to postpone until you know your family is complete. Many responsible plastic surgeons will give you this piece of advice. But the reasons behind it are different than what you might think.
Several studies have proven that there is no danger for the baby or the mother to go through pregnancy and breastfeeding with silicone implants. However, the aesthetic results might be severely impacted if you have a pregnancy or more after breast augmentation surgery. During pregnancy, your whole body goes through multiple changes and the breasts and the tummy are the most affected parts of your body. Additional procedures might be needed to correct breast ptosis that might occur after pregnancy.