Thinking about buying yourself some new boobs? You might want to make sure you can handle the after effects. The NYT informs that breast augmentation doesn’t always involve a single surgery and there’s no warranty on your boobs. In fact, one third of women who get breast implants end up having another surgery within four to five years.

Why?

…with such high rates of reoperation, a new debate is emerging over whether breast implants constitute the kind of annuity medicine that will entail regular surgical tuneups, exposing patients to increased medical risk and out-of-pocket expenses. At a time when manufacturers have provided the F.D.A. with clinical studies that follow patients for just a few years, there is no established medical consensus on how long implants last, leaving doctors to rely on their anecdotal experiences when discussing durability with patients.

Given the lack of such data, critics said, women may not be prepared in the long term for the ordeal or financial burden of subsequent surgery.

Eek. And then there’s this:

Many women are aware that implants can break down over time, requiring replacement just like car tires.

Car tires? Really? At least you don’t have to get them rotated.

Do My Breast Implants Have a Warranty?[NYT]
(Photo:Amaranth Productions)

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