The most common problem is capsular contracture, which occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the implant can cause the breast to feel hard. A small percentage of women develop an infection around an implant. This may occur at any time, but is most often seen within a week after surgery. In some cases, the implant may need to be removed for several months until the infection clears.
Some women report that their nipples become oversensitive, undersensitive or even numb.
There may be small patches of numbness near the incisions. These symptoms usually disappear with time. Bock says his overall complication rate is less than 2 or 3 percent. The incision made to insert the implant is either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola or in the armpit. The breast tissue and skin is lifted to create a pocket, either directly behind the breast tissue or under the chest wall muscle, centering the implant beneath the nipple.