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What will happen if one of my implants ruptures?
When a saline filled breast implant loses its integrity, all of the salt water eventually escapes and is gradually absorbed into the vascular system to be eliminated through the kidneys. As a result, once the implant is completely deflated, the breast loses all volume due to the implant and its size diminishes significantly. Therefore, no special tests or x-rays are required to diagnose a ruptured saline breast implant.
Silicone breast implants are a different story. When a silicone gel breast implant ruptures, the gel leaks from the disrupted shell much more slowly than salt water from a saline implant. Because of the viscosity of silicone, the overwhelming majority of the silicone stays inside of the scar capsule which formed around the implant soon after it was inserted. As a result, there is very little change in the size of the breast. In fact, it can be difficult to diagnose a ruptured silicone breast implant because there in generally no change in the size of the breast and the shape may not change much either. CT scans, ultrasound and mammograms are notoriously bad at determining implant deflations. At this time, an MRI is the best diagnostic test to detect a rupture. The FDA recommends that patients with silicone breast implants have an MRI every two years to detect ruptures. For patients who have silicone implants for breast reconstruction, the cost may be covered by their insurance; otherwise it is an out of pocket expense.
Replacing a saline implant is a relatively simple process and can often be done in an office OR as a relatively minor procedure if it is a smooth implant. Textured implants and ruptured silicone implants are more difficult to remove and may require more anesthesia than just mild sedation to remove the old implant prior to replacement.
Silicone breast implants are a different story. When a silicone gel breast implant ruptures, the gel leaks from the disrupted shell much more slowly than salt water from a saline implant. Because of the viscosity of silicone, the overwhelming majority of the silicone stays inside of the scar capsule which formed around the implant soon after it was inserted. As a result, there is very little change in the size of the breast. In fact, it can be difficult to diagnose a ruptured silicone breast implant because there in generally no change in the size of the breast and the shape may not change much either. CT scans, ultrasound and mammograms are notoriously bad at determining implant deflations. At this time, an MRI is the best diagnostic test to detect a rupture. The FDA recommends that patients with silicone breast implants have an MRI every two years to detect ruptures. For patients who have silicone implants for breast reconstruction, the cost may be covered by their insurance; otherwise it is an out of pocket expense.
Replacing a saline implant is a relatively simple process and can often be done in an office OR as a relatively minor procedure if it is a smooth implant. Textured implants and ruptured silicone implants are more difficult to remove and may require more anesthesia than just mild sedation to remove the old implant prior to replacement.
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