Breast augmentation surgery: a women's health issue

Abstract

Surgery to increase breast size is a common procedure. In this paper we examine the reasons why women choose to undergo the procedure, the history of breast enhancement, current surgical approaches, possible complications and their treatment. Driving forces behind the choice to have augmentation surgery appear to be related to feelings of low self-esteem and self-confidence. Although there is a large literature related to breast augmentation, little of it is research-based. The research that there is focuses on complications and their treatment, with an emphasis on capsular contracture. Few of the studies are long-term, although complications have been noted as long as 25 years after initial implantation. There is a need for research into the experience of women undergoing augmentation mammaplasty but, perhaps more importantly, there is also a need to examine ways in which women can be helped to accept themselves as they are.

Characteristics of Women Who Have Had Cosmetic Breast Implants That Could Be Associated with Increased Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review, Proposing a Suicide Prevention Model

“…Silicone implants have been associated with the development of autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, systematic erythematic lupus, mixed disorders of the connective tissue, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome but this findings remain debatable [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]. More interestingly the implant explantation results in symptoms remission [ 72 , 73 ]. Less studied dimensions that could be related with the implant and it's potential contribution to suicide risk are the autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) ( Table 4 ).…”

Torrenting values, feelings, and thoughts—Cyber nursing and virtual self-care in a breast augmentation forum

“…Although this is a common surgical procedure, very little can be found in the nursing literature about it. Oberle and Allen (1994) stated that most women probably learn what they know about the procedure from magazines that frequently address the topic of elective plastic surgery. However, in light of the current expansion of information available on the Internet, we can presume that this source is one of the most important or perhaps the—most important, source of knowledge on the topic.…”