Breast augmentation can be a touchy subject within the public opinion, one that is rife with misinformation, myths, and legends. The fact of the matter is that the basic procedure, whether it be a breast enlargement, lift, or reconstruction, is a professional, medically-sanctioned procedure of cosmetic surgery. When a person undergoes breast augmentation surgery, they are receiving quality care under a highly trained surgeon, all in a safe, ethical, efficacious setting. To dispel these myths and legends, let’s break down some common beliefs and focus on the reality of each statement.
Breast Implants Aren’t Popular
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There tends to be a belief that cosmetic surgery, particularly breast augmentation, is an unpopular procedure. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 17 million minimally-invasive cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in 2016, just in the U.S,. alone. Of those 17 million procedures, breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, with 290,467 procedures completed. Furthermore, breast augmentation procedures have nearly tripled over the past two decades.
Breast Augmentation Isn’t For Young People
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A common misconception is that breast implant and breast reduction surgery is only done by individuals over the age of 30. However, in 2016 breast augmentation proved to be the most popular form of cosmetic surgery for individuals within the 20-29 age group. There’s no specific age for which breast augmentation is restricted to. Adults of any age can receive professional cosmetic surgery without any following stigma.
Breast Augmentation Requires Takes a Long Time to Health
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People tend to believe that breast surgery requires a long period of time to properly heal, like more serious, illness-related forms of surgery. Yet this is another myth that is not true. The American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS) states that most patients require just five to seven days off from work to assure they have properly healed.
Cosmetic Surgery Doesn’t Fix Self-Esteem Issues
Another myth attributed to plastic surgery is that it doesn’t fix a person’s ego or self-esteem issues. However, a 2008 study presented through the AAPS states that 91% of patients reported feeling an improved sense of self-esteem following their breast augmentation surgery. Whether it was someone receiving breast implants, a breast lift, or a breast reduction, they felt more physically and emotionally comfortable with themselves.
Once You Have a Mastectomy, There’s Nothing Else You Can Do
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For patients with breast cancer, a mastectomy is a procedural way to ensure that cancerous tissue is removed from the body, wherein a surgeon removes the entire breast (tissue and lymph nodes together). While having this procedure means your breast are permanently removed, it does not mean you cannot have cosmetic surgery for breast reconstruction. In 2015 alone, nearly 106,000 breast cancer patients underwent reconstructive breast surgery following a mastectomy.
If you’re considering undergoing a breast augmentation procedure, it should not make you feel either stigmatized or worried. If you are considering having the procedure done, be sure to meet with a board member sanctioned surgeon and discuss the options at hand. By receiving the proper information, treatment, and medical care, you can receive professional cosmetic surgery and dispel the worry propagated by wide-spread misinformation.
