More women are getting breast implants every year, and breast implantation surgery is one of the most popular plastic surgeries that people can have done. Most people get implants for cosmetic reasons. They want to enhance their breasts by making them appear larger, project more, or sit higher on the chest. Different types and sizes of implants can produce different appearances.

Some women have normal breasts to begin with, but others may have more practical reasons to get implants. Many women who have had breast cancer have had some breast tissue removed to get rid of the cancer. In some cases, an implant can be put into the breast as part of reconstructive surgery to give the breast back its natural appearance. Similarly, women who have birth defects or have suffered from injuries that damaged their breast tissue also may be able to get implants to improve the appearance of their breasts.

Getting implants comes with many changes, and one change that is often overlooked is the gaining of weight from implants. The implants weigh from two to three pounds each, and once you get them, you will have the extra weight for the rest of your life or until you have your implants removed.

Although four to six pounds may not sound like a big deal, many women may not like that particular change. The extra pounds can have a larger effect than you might think, too.

Breast implantation surgery is somewhat traumatic on the body and to the breasts most of all. The sudden extra weight puts strain on all of the breast tissues, chest, shoulder, and back muscles. Some women mistakenly think that they do not need to wear a bra because they have perkier breasts. This could not be farther from the truth, since getting implants actually hampers the breasts’ ability to hold up their own weight. Wearing a supportive bra is an absolute must for all women who have breast implants.

For those who carefully maintain a certain weight, the extra weight of the implants can be frustrating in other ways. The weight of the implants will not go away as long as they remain in the breasts. Additionally, the chest, shoulder and back muscles may actually become stronger as a result of carrying extra weight, and muscle growth may add extra body weight.

Most women do not have their implants removed until they rupture and the liquid or gel within them begins to leak out. Usually, when this happens, another implant is put in to replace the original. (Most of the time, a warranty covers the cost of the new implant if the old implant ruptured within a certain number of years.) Some women choose to have both of their implants removed without having them replaced. Having this done would, of course, remove the extra weight of the implants, decreasing the total body weight.