Breast implant complications can range from mild pain to delayed healing. There are many causes of these complications, some of which may be traced back to the surgeon, patient or manufacturer of the implant. Here are some of the common types of breast implant failures and injuries.
Infections
An infection is always a risk after any form of surgery, breast implant included. Most infections occur due to patient's carelessness, but others may also be traced back to the surgeon (and their team). For example, you may suffer an infection if a surgical assistant fails to use sterilized equipment on your wound. The cause of the infection must be identified before the liable party can be identified.
Deflation
Deflation occurs when the implant leaks or tears and empties its saline contents into your body. Deflation is a common occurrence with defective implants. You can pursue a defective product claim against the manufacturer if that is proven to be the issue.
Necrosis
Necrosis refers to the appearance of dead skins around the breast. It may be caused by different issues such as smoking, use of steroids, or excessive heat. That means necrosis is also a compilation that doesn't have an automatically liable party; usually, it's either the patient or the doctor that does something to cause necrosis.
Seroma
A seroma (from the word serum) is a collection of fluids under the skin. These are common with different forms of surgery, and they aren't usually serious. However, they increase your risk of developing an infection. Seromas can also be caused by different things such as the removal of too much tissue during surgery and leakage of the implant.
Capsular Contracture
This is a condition in which the breast tissues around the implant develop scar tissues. With time, the scarring causes the breast to harden, and the hardened breast may look or feel different from the natural breast. Capsular contracture is a cause for concern because people seek breast implants for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, and the hardening of the breast due to this complication negates all that.
The good news is that there are surgical techniques that reduce the risk of capsular contracture. Therefore, you may have a valid injury claim if you have developed the condition and your surgeon did not take the preventive measures during your surgery.
You don't have an injury claim automatically just because you have suffered a breast implant complication. You need to prove that another person's negligence caused the complication. Notify your implant surgeon, get medical treatment, and then consult a personal injury lawyer to see if you have a case.
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