The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

Danish Study Shows Fewer Breast Enlargement Complications - Wednesday, September 30, 2009

When women are considering breast enlargement, one potential deterrent is the likelihood of surgical complications. However, a new study published in the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, shows complication rates of breast enlargement are lower than previously reported. The study was large in both numbers and length. It followed nearly 5400 women who had breast augmentation from 1999-2007 for an average of 3.8 years. Some patients were followed for the entire length of the study.

The study showed that only 16.7% of breast enlargement patients experienced any complication whatsoever. Only 4.8% of patients had complications requiring surgery. These rates are much lower than complication rates reported elsewhere, such as in the informed consent documents patients are given before breast enlargement. It grouped complications by 30-day, 3 year, and 5-year occurrences. Within 30 days of surgery, hematoma and infection were the most common complications with 1.1% and 1.2% occurrences, respectively. Within 5 years, changes in skin sensation and asymmetry or displacement of breast implants were the most common complications. The study indicated that 8.7% of the women experienced skin sensation and asymmetry issues while 5.2% experienced implant displacement.

These complication rates are averages, and rates vary between surgeons. If you would like to learn more about breast enlargement at The Centre, P.C., including more about the safety of the procedure, please schedule a consultation at our South Bend, Elkhart, or Chesterton, Indiana offices.