People Who Have Had Breast Augmentation Surgery and Regret It

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the cosmetic procedures with the highest patient satisfaction rates worldwide. Nevertheless, you may come across comments online such as ‘I regret having breast augmentation’, ‘I wish I hadn’t had breast implants’ or ‘I want to have my breast implants removed’.

So why do people who have had breast augmentation surgery actually end up regretting it?

In most cases, this is not due to the surgery being unsuccessful; rather, it is due to unrealistic pre-operative expectations, the wrong choice of implant, or a surgical plan that is unsuitable for the patient. With the right patient selection, the correct technique and a thorough pre-operative assessment, the vast majority of these regrets can be prevented.

Reasons for Regret Following Breast Augmentation Surgery

The most common situations that may cause patients to feel regret are as follows:

• The implant appears larger than expected
• The implant being smaller than desired
• Achieving a result that does not look natural
• The fact that it is not known whether breast asymmetry will be completely corrected
• The recovery process taking longer than expected
• The development of rare complications such as capsular contracture
• The use of an unsuitable implant or placement technique, despite the thin skin structure
• A comparison of one’s own results with the filtered results seen on social media
• Prioritising price alone when choosing a surgeon

The Regret I Encounter Most Often: “I Wish It Were Bigger” or “I Wish It Were Smaller”

The two phrases we hear most often after breast augmentation surgery are complete opposites of one another.

Whilst some patients feel that their implants are larger than they expected, others wish they had opted for a slightly larger implant.

For this reason, prior to surgery, I assess not only the implant volume but also the patient’s height, shoulder width, breast base diameter, existing breast tissue, skin thickness and the look they are aiming for. My aim is to achieve a result that is not only attractive today but will also ensure the patient’s satisfaction for years to come.

Not Looking Natural Could Be a Source of Regret

Not every patient wants the same look. Whilst some prefer a pronounced cleavage, others aim for the most natural-looking breasts possible.

If the patient’s expectations are not properly assessed, or if an implant is chosen that is not suitable for their anatomy, the result may not meet their expectations.

For this reason, I plan the choice of implant not solely on the basis of centimetres or volume, but by taking body proportions and skin characteristics into account.

Incorrect Installation Techniques Can Cause Problems in the Long Term

Placing the implant over the muscle, in the dual-plane position or in different planes is not equally suitable for every patient.

In patients with particularly thin skin and little breast tissue, an inappropriate placement technique may, over the years, lead to the edges of the implants becoming visible (rippling), unevenness or an unnatural appearance.

For this reason, tailoring the surgical plan to the patient’s anatomy is of great importance in terms of long-term satisfaction.

Psychological Expectations Following Breast Augmentation Are Also Important

Sometimes, despite a technically successful operation, the patient may still be dissatisfied. This is often not due to the surgery itself, but to the expectation that the operation will resolve all their self-confidence issues.

Breast augmentation surgery can improve body proportions and help a person feel better about themselves; however, the highest levels of satisfaction are achieved when the procedure is planned with realistic expectations.

How Can Regret After Breast Augmentation Be Prevented?

The most important factors in reducing the risk of regret are as follows:

• Choosing an experienced plastic surgeon
• Discussing expectations in detail before the operation
• Selecting an implant that is anatomically suitable
• Determining the appropriate surgical technique for the patient
• Planning the recovery process realistically
• Thinking not only about the short-term consequences, but also the long-term ones

In my surgical approach, the aim is not merely to create a breast that looks good on the day of the operation. My priority is to achieve healthy, long-lasting results that retain their natural appearance even years later. For this reason, I plan the choice of implant and the placement technique on a case-by-case basis for each patient.

Conclusion

There are, of course, patients who have had breast augmentation surgery and regret it. However, this is usually due to inadequate planning, the choice of unsuitable implants or unrealistic expectations, rather than poor surgical technique.

Thanks to accurate assessment, detailed patient-surgeon communication and personalised surgical planning, breast augmentation surgery remains one of the procedures with the highest levels of patient satisfaction in cosmetic surgery.