5 Common Myths About Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed in the U.S. Still, women thinking about getting breast implants need to separate fact from fiction when they research the procedure. Based on the questions patients ask about breast augmentation at our Portland, OR, practice, it’s clear that several myths persist.

In this blog post, we’ll address the 5 most common myths regarding breast augmentation so you can make an informed decision about the procedure.

Breast Augmentation Myths

Some of these statements were once true, but as modern breast augmentation techniques developed, they no longer accurately describe the real-life experiences of breast augmentation patients. Plastic surgery is a dynamic field, so it’s understandable that beliefs that were once accepted as accurate have become obsolete.

1. “The results won’t look natural.” There was a time when many breast augmentation patients wanted exaggerated results that emphasized cleavage rather than natural-looking results. That’s really no longer the case, and most women want breast enhancement that still looks natural. Our board-certified plastic surgeons produce natural-looking results using modern surgical techniques and helping patients choose implant sizes that are proportional to their bodies.
2. “I’ll have to replace my implants in 10 years.” This is one of those “rules of thumb” that gained a foothold years ago and became accepted as truth, even though implant durability varies. Breast implants are not designed to last forever, but if a woman is happy with the appearance of her breasts and doesn’t experience complications, implants may last 15 to 20 years. At some point, however, women should be prepared to replace or remove their implants.
3. “I’ll need to take too much time off from work.” Thanks to advanced surgical techniques used by our surgeons, breast augmentation recovery is typically much shorter and involves less discomfort than many patients expect. Patients with jobs that don’t require heavy lifting or other physically strenuous activity are often back at work after about 3 days. Women who work from home may not even need that much time off.
4. “Breast implants aren’t safe.” Breast implants have been the subject of more studies than virtually any other medical device. Complications occur but are less common now than ever before. In recent years, specific implants were linked to a rare type of lymphoma called BIA-ALCL. Those implants were pulled from the market and are no longer used. Our surgeons are very transparent about the risks involved with breast augmentation and all other elective surgical procedures, and safety is their top priority.
5. “I’ll have scars on my breasts.” Scars result from any incision. Breast augmentation incisions, however, are made where they are easily concealed by swimwear or summer clothes and typically fade over time. Our surgeons explain incision location options to patients so they can make the best choice for themselves.

Getting breast implants at our Portland, Oregon, practice can help you feel more confident and feminine, whether you have naturally small breasts or you want to restore volume lost after pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can see our surgeons’ excellent results in our gallery of breast augmentation before-and-after photos.

If you’re ready to explore your breast enhancement surgery options, the first step is to request a consultation or call our office at (503) 292-9200 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.