It is normal, and you must expect some discomfort, swelling and occasional bruising, and partial numbness in the breast following surgery, which will improve gradually over the first few days. It is common for you to feel comfortable within five to seven days, and to have totally accepted, and forgotten about the surgery after one month or so.

Haematoma:

This is rare and approximately 2% of people have problems caused by bleeding occurring in the pocket around the implant immediately following surgery. This can result in swelling, pain, bruising, possible infection, and subsequent scar tissue contracture, and it is important to have the collection of blood removed, either by drainage, or very rarely, via a subsequent operation.

Infection:

Acute infection is almost unheard of with breast implant surgery. However, there is a theory that a slow grade, sub clinical infection around your implants over a year can precipitate a more aggressive scar tissue (capsule formation), resulting in firmness, hardening and distortion of your breast implants. Wound break down, or delayed healing is extremely rare, and usually associated with infection, and possible implant exposure, requiring removal of the implants. These can be re-implanted at a subsequent date.

Changes in feeling of the nipple and breast:

For the first few weeks after surgery, either heightened or decreased sensitivity in the breast and nipple are common, and will settle with time. However, some permanent reduction in sensation, and nipple erection response is possible, and must be understood.

Shifting of the implant:

The implant is placed into a very precisely created pocket by the surgeon. However, in the first few weeks, it is possible for the implant to become displaced, thereby creating possible asymmetry, or the undesired shape, especially when using the shaped implants. Thus, it is important to follow your surgeon's instructions regarding physical activity in the post-operative period.

Deflation:

This occurs with saline implants in some 2%, per annum, per implant, and is due either to failure of the implant valve, or a tear in the implant shell over the passage of years. This results in spontaneous reduction in size of that breast when the saline is absorbed into your body harmlessly. It does require very simple surgery to remove the implant shell, and replace it with a new implant, or possibly have both implants replaced with silicone gel, which cannot deflate.

Capsular contracture:

Is the most worrisome and problem consequence of breast augmentation surgery. It is normal for your body to form a layer of thin scar tissue around the implant, which ideally becomes incorporated into the bumpy surface of the implant, thereby minimising contracture. However, in a variable percentage, the scar tissue continues to squeeze the implant, thereby making it firmer to the touch, more round in appearance, and thus, creating a possible distortion of that breast, with a feeling of hardness and discomfort. Whilst some patients are unaware of this, they may request revision surgery to remove the capsule, and have the breast re-implanted if desired. Over time, capsules may form calcium deposits, which are generally harmless, but can be seen on mammography screenings.

Detection of breast cancer and lumps:

Silicone implants are not known to increase the incidents of breast cancer. There is also no breast tissue beneath the implant, thus all of your breast tissue is pushed forward by the implant, making the breast very accessible for examination for breast lumps. However, routine screening and mammography is more difficult, although ultrasound is not compromised by the presence of breast implants.

Implant revision surgery:

As implants are present for a number of years, and the passage of time can create problems, it is not uncommon for the patient to request revision surgery due to some of the above problems. This is usually easier, less painful, with a quicker recovery due to the fact that the pocket already exits, and may only need to be modified, but not created again in most cases.

Breast feeding:

The breast tissue and ducts are left undisturbed by the surgery, and thus you should have normal expectations in relation to breast feeding. There is also no way known that your breast milk can be contaminated by silicone gel.

Auto immune and unknown diseases:

In 1992, it was suspected that women with the older style liquid silicone implants may have a higher incidence of auto immune diseases where your body makes antibodies against itself, thereby creating a disease process resulting in arthritis type conditions, tiredness, fibrosis in the body, swollen glands, skin rashes and other symptoms.

However, since that time numerous studies involving many thousands of patients have all concurred that there is no higher incidence of these diseases in women with augmented breasts, and thus, most countries in the world have cleared silicone filled implants to be used again, as there is no evidence that they are harmful.