Because implants are a medical device, they can fail at any point after implantation. This is uncommon, but it would require implant replacement surgery because leaking would cause the involved breast to shrink to the preoperative size. Some patients develop a firm layer of scar tissue around their implants which can make the breast hard to the touch or painful. Nipple sensation can be increased or decreased by the procedure. Although this is almost always temporary, it can be permanent.
Most patients are able to breast-feed following augmentation.
Breast implants do cause some interference with the ability of mammography to detect early breast cancers. This is an important consideration that patients should discuss with a physician, particularly patients with a first-degree relative who has had breast cancer. All augmented patients need to inform their radiologist of their implants so the screening technique can be favorably modified. Despite these limitations, approximately two million women are estimated to have undergone breast enlargement surgery. The overwhelming majority are satisfied with the results.