A woman has opened up about her regrets about breast implants, admitting they cost her thousands of dollars and even her ability to work.
Maria Gmitro, 48, told US Sun it was also hampering her ability to parent and she had to have them removed after just three years.
4
Now, as its president and founder Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA), warns others.
Maria was 39 with two teenage daughters when she had the breast augmentation, a breast job.
She was looking to correct her breast asymmetry — and even though it wasn’t something she’d wanted for years, she had the money and the opportunity.
“I just think it was so normalized and I had so many friends and acquaintances who had breast implants and I thought they were putting them in breast cancer survivors,” Maria said.
“How bad can they be?”
What she didn’t know was that there are some risks associated with this type of cosmetic surgery.
Unfortunately, Maria had to learn this the hard way.
“Within six months, I started having some problems,” he said.
“It was simple at first: a bit more trouble sleeping, inflammation and rashes.
“It got to the point where I had to stop teaching to focus on my health to figure out what was going on.”
At the time, Maria thought she had done enough research on the risks of breast implant surgery.
She talked to friends who were nurses and consulted several surgeons, all of whom assured her that the implants she was getting were the “latest and best FDA-approved.”
Of course Maria trusted their words completely.
But now she regrets it and tells other women considering enhancements to do more research.
“This is a specific medical device that is marketed directly to consumers, by people who make a profit. Therefore, informed consent is not mandatory,” Maria explained.
“Yet someone is selling you a product.”
“Doctors, we’ve noticed, might say something like, ‘Oh, have you heard of breast implant disease?’
“Well, you know, if that happens to you, we’ll just take it out, but they don’t tell the patient it could cost them $10,000.”
At 40, Maria’s health had deteriorated. A rash had spread to her arms, chest and upper back.
She went to a doctor who told her these symptoms were probably related to her age, not her implants.
However, upon further research, Maria found other women experiencing similar results after their surgeries.
Once Maria had her implants removed, her health improved dramatically.
4
No matter how old a woman is when she gets implants, the physical risks are the same.
Rupture, gel bleeding, inflammation, capsular contracture, lymphoma, and other cancers are all associated risks.
Plus, getting breast implants will change the shape of your rib cage – a fact Maria didn’t know until she got hers.
For younger women with enhancements, this could cause a different problem for them as they get older.
“Later in life, your body has changed and your skin loosens,” Maria explained.
“You could remove the implants and see your breasts are hollow, which is shocking compared to having your breasts with implants.
“When you’re young like that, you don’t really know what health problems can develop with implants in your body.
“Scar tissue grows around the implant to protect your body from this foreign object, but that scar tissue can grow on the nerves and affect some of your mobility.”
One plastic surgeon pointed out that the younger you are when you have surgery, the greater the chance of problems as you get older and gain weight.
“There are a few things that can affect long-term results, including fluctuations in weight or breast development,” the surgeon said.
“Aesthetically, the position can change and the overall effect can be compromised if there is a significant change in the chest or body due to weight gain.”
Physical changes in body shape should concern younger women if they want to get implants and have babies.
But other than that, problems with breastfeeding are very rare.
“Typically it’s only 1 in 10 patients. We see it when the implants are placed over the muscle or if they’re too big for the frame,” explained the surgeon.
“Implants greater than 400 ccs have an increased risk of complications.”
According to Maria and the surgeon, a huge concern for young women and teenagers who want improvements is mental rather than physical.
Maria said: “Getting breast implants at a very young age can lead to developing a sense of self that is dependent on having temporary or expensive devices.”
And with more social media influencers documenting their experiences with breast augmentation, more teens could be vulnerable to this mentality.
The surgeon noted, “Social media definitely contributes to unrealistic aspirations. It contributes to body ideals that may not be realistic or healthy for the average young girl.”
He added that social media “provides access to a younger demographic.”
“We get DMs through our instagram handle from minors asking if they can have surgery with parental consent.”
Added pressures from the celebrity world also contribute to women’s desire for surgery, our expert added.
She said: “The Kardashians are notorious for flaunting and gaining their physiques.
“Social media contributes to insecurities in young girls as well.
“Patients who undergo these procedures usually have a long-term goal or aspiration to feel confident, sexy and in-body.”
While for many surgeries their self-esteem is boosted, Maria warned that there is a risk of only getting into a relationship after surgery.
“Other risks include working with someone who only knows you with the temporary devices on your body,” Maria added.
“We’ve noticed that she comes to a point of contention for couples later if she decides to give birth.”
A black box warning has now been placed for breast augmentation.
“There is no long-term safety data on breast implants,” Maria said.
“Those post-market approval studies were discontinued, so we don’t have much of the information that could impact patient care today.
“Overall, the public has not been fully informed about the potential risks associated with breast implants.”
The surgeon suggested that concerned women use the increasing accessibility of social media to send surgeons any questions or concerns.
Finding and reviewing the work of a reputable expert is essential.
Image research of implants and complications of surgery is also beneficial.
“Sometimes pictures do more than words to fully explore any alternatives to implants,” Maria admitted.
“Schedule regular health checkups and monitor your breasts for any changes.
“Make sure your healthcare professionals know to put in your medical record that you have an implanted medical device in case you have problems.”
Both Maria and the surgeon agree that most importantly, any young woman or teenager needs to ensure they are having the surgery for the right reasons.
Each option, as well as any potential medical complications, should be explored before proceeding with augmentation.
4
