A recent news item reveals that, of late, there has been an increase in the number of breast implantation surgeries in
Odisha. An interaction with the leading cosmetic and plastic surgeons indicates that awareness about breast implantation is
growing across the state.
Statistics show that most of the women who go for breast implants do it for the sake of increasing their bust size. It’s
a bit disturbing; because the otherwise nobler uses of the breast implantation techniques such as restoration of breast that
has been disfigured or lost to cancer, or curative solutions for amastia
(absence of breast) and hypomastia (small size) find secondary attention. Ironically, most of implantation surgeries
performed on women in Odisha are done for cosmetic purposes.
“Awareness has increased manifold due to rise in the number of working women and peer pressure to overcome inferiority
complex”, says a leading plastic surgeon of the Kalinga Hospital, Bhubaneswar, adding that the concept of plastic surgery
for breast implantation was non-existent in Odisha till a few years back.
The cost of implanting a pair of gel cups in private hospitals in Odisha ranges from Rs.45,000 to Rs.50,000. So affordability
also plays a major role in the growing popularity of breast implantation procedures among women of the state.
Breast implants made with silicone envelopes and filled silicone or saline were first introduced in the US market in the
1960’s. By 1990 almost one million women had undergone breast implant surgery, even though no safety studies had been
published by then.
The rejection percentage in breast implantation surgeries is said to be between one and two. It is all the more important
to take into account the risk factors involved in such surgeries. Some of the complications and adverse outcome of breast
implants include scar tissues that form around the implant, breast pain, changes in nipple and breast sensation and ruptures
with or without symptoms.
The FDA has listed out certain issues which should be taken into consideration before going for breast implant surgery.
It goes on to emphasize that breast implants are not life time devices. One is also supposed to assume that one will need
to have additional surgeries after implantation surgeries.
In case of silicone gel-filled breast implants it is necessary to undergo periodic MRI examinations in order to detect
ruptures that do not cause symptoms. It is also worth mentioning that many of the changes in one’s breast following
implantation may be cosmetically undesirable and irreversible. A report in the Daily Telegraph has revealed that tens of thousands
of women had been given potentially faulty breast implants, raising concerns over licensing of such products in the EU.
Given the recent trend among a section of women in Odisha to rush for breast implants for cosmetic
reasons, it is advisable to weigh the gains and losses involved in such kind of surgeries. The fruits of advancement in surgical
science in this field should better be used for alleviation of medical abnormalities and suffering.
