A breast lift is usually a purely cosmetic operation and is therefore usually not financed by the statutory or private health insurance companies. Patients must bear the costs of the actual operation and all further measures themselves. In this context, many people overlook the fact that the treatment costs for possible consequences that occur in the course of a cosmetic operation are not covered by health insurance. It is therefore advisable to take out additional insurance, especially tailored to follow-up measures after a cosmetic operation.
What are the risks with a breast lift?
Since every breast lift must be performed under general anaesthetic, the typical risks can also occur here. These include, among others, problems of the cardiovascular system, such as some dizziness, palpitations and cardiac arrhythmia. Furthermore, breathing can be impaired during and after the procedure.
Another, rather unspecific risk is the occurrence of gastric bleeding, which can occur, for example, when taking medication after a breast lift. In addition, wound infections and/or inflammation in the area of the surgical incisions on the breast are possible. An inpatient admission after a cosmetic operation with general anaesthesia is usually necessary.
Due to the time spent lying in the hospital bed, thromboses may form. There are hardly any really specific risks associated with a breast lift, although some patients report greatly reduced skin sensitivity in the breast area. This sensory disturbance can be caused by irritation or injury to the nerves lying on the surface, i.e. in the skin.
Although the incisions are made very carefully and rather small when carrying out a breast lift, there can still be severe scarring. Depending on the chosen surgical method, the risk varies greatly. For women of childbearing age, it is also important to know that a breast lift does not restrict breastfeeding in any way, and they need not worry about this.
Risks
Although breast lift is a very complicated procedure, the possible risks of such a treatment are generally, i.e. relatively low compared to other surgical procedures. Nevertheless, like any other operation, it always involves risks. On the one hand, it can lead to rather unspecific after-effects, i.e. those that can generally occur as a result of operations of any kind or the necessary general anaesthesia.
These include heart, circulation and/or breathing problems during or after the operation. Bleeding may occur within the breast tissue or along the edges of the wound. In addition, thrombosis may develop due to the time spent lying down following the breast correction or wound infection may occur due to the surgical incisions.
Specific risks are bruising (haematomas) and swelling of the breast. However, these bruises and swellings usually subside completely after a short time (a few days to weeks). Only in exceptional cases is it necessary to carry out a relieving operation.
In addition, inflammation along the wound margin, wound healing disorders, reduced sensitivity of the nipples and/or circulatory disorders are reported in only a few cases. In such cases, factors that have nothing to do with the operation itself usually play a decisive role. In smokers, diabetics or patients with a general blood coagulation disorder, these consequences occur much more frequently.
During the operation it is of course always possible that small superficial nerves are affected. In such a case, the skin of the breast may also feel temporarily numb in these areas, but this numbness usually disappears completely within about 6 months.
