Breast implants, saline or silicone, can leak. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed on this guide, consult with your plastic surgeon immediately. They will be able to confirm if your breast implant has ruptured and may recommend additional treatment as needed.
In this guide, we review the Symptoms Of A Leaking Breast Implant, silent rupture breast implants symptoms, saline breast implant leak symptoms, and how hard is it to rupture a silicone implant.
Symptoms Of A Leaking Breast Implant
If you have breast implants, you know that leaks can be serious. But how do you know if your implants are leaking? In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of a leaking breast implant. We’ll also give you tips for finding out for sure if there is an issue with your implant and what to do about it.
Size changes in your breast
A change in breast size is a common symptom of a leaking breast implant. Swelling and fluid build up are the most common causes of this change, but it could also be due to migration or rupture of your implant. If you notice swelling, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your surgeon as soon as possible.
It’s important to note that if you experience any sort of change in your breasts (including size), it could be due to something completely unrelated to your implants–this condition is called “breast asymmetry” and can develop due to genetics or weight changes over time.
Pain or swelling around a breast implant
If you feel pain or swelling around your breast implant, it may be a sign that there’s something wrong with the implant.
If the swelling is severe and one-sided, this can mean that the implant has ruptured. You should see a doctor immediately if this happens as they will need to remove it so that they can make sure there are no complications from having an unsecured foreign object inside of your body. If the swelling isn’t severe and both sides are painful (or just one), then it could be due to infection or trauma from an accident or fall; however these symptoms should subside after about two weeks on their own without treatment if everything else checks out okay during physical examinations done by doctors at that time period before deciding whether further action needs taken by either removing them entirely since these conditions aren’t serious enough yet but still require attention nonetheless.”
Pain in the breast
If you feel pain in your breasts, it could be caused by a number of things. In fact, some women experience pain after having breast implants placed. The most common cause of this is leakage around the implant or an infection that has developed within the pocket where they were inserted.
If you experience severe pain in your breasts and it doesn’t go away after a few days or weeks, then make sure to see a doctor right away because there may be something wrong with your implants (or even worse–your body).
Hardening of the breasts or breast tissue
Hardening of the breast tissue is a sign of a leaking implant. It can be painful and may be a sign of infection. If you experience hardening of the breast tissue, see your doctor for antibiotics to treat the infection. The implant may need to be removed surgically if it becomes very hard or painful to touch.
Numbness
You may experience numbness in your breasts. Numbness is a symptom of breast cancer, but it can also be a sign of other conditions like leaking implants. The good news is that not all leaking implants cause numbness in the breasts; many women who have had this problem say that their nipples are still fully functional.
Leaking implants often do not cause pain, so it is important to keep regular checkups with your doctor.
It is important to keep regular checkups with your doctor. Do not ignore symptoms of a leaking implant, as they can be an indication of more serious medical issues. If you have any of the symptoms listed, see a doctor immediately:
- Pain or tenderness in one area of your breasts that does not go away after several days
- A lump on or around either breast or underarm area (this could be fluid buildup)
If you do have a leaking implant, there are steps you can take to fix it.
silent rupture breast implants symptoms
Are you researching breast augmentation or plastic surgery recovery? What about life after a breast augmentation? Even after you are “done” recovering from a breast augmentation, you might still encounter complications that require additional surgery. One term you may see when researching breast implant types is “silent rupture.” What is silent rupture, and how can you reduce your risk of encountering it? To help you learn more about silent ruptures, we talked to several of the best plastic surgeons around the country.
What is a Silent Rupture?
A silicone gel breast implant is made by filling a solid silicone shell with thick, sticky silicone gel. The stability this gel provides means silicone gel breast implants have beautiful, natural looking results. If a rupture occurs the silicone gel must be removed with the shell because, unlike the saline that fills saline and structured implants, silicone gel cannot be absorbed by the body.
According to the FDA, symptoms of a ruptured breast implant include, “a decrease in breast size, change in breast implant shape, hard lumps over the implant or chest area, an uneven appearance of the breasts, pain or tenderness, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, or changes in sensation.”
However, not all silicone gel breast implant ruptures show symptoms, which can cause some anxiety during plastic surgery recovery and beyond. According to the FDA, “If a silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, it is not likely that you or your doctor will immediately notice because most silicone implant ruptures are without symptoms, ‘silent ruptures.’” Even if a rupture is causing no problems, the FDA still recommends removal with or without replacement.
How Silent Ruptures are Detected
How do you know you have experienced a silent rupture? Women with silicone gel breast implants are encouraged to get magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) every few years in order to detect a silent rupture. As Dr. Constance Barone, board-certified plastic surgeon in San Antonio, points out, not all women like this recommendation. She tells us, “We like the feel of silicone gel implants. We just don’t like the fact that we should be getting MRIs at three years and every two years thereafter. That’s an out- of-pocket expense, which can be quite expensive.” According to a recent report the average MRI cost is between $444-$1468.
Some of the best plastic surgeons around the country tell us detecting a silent rupture can be more difficult than just getting an MRI. Dr. Joshua Waltzman, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Long Beach, says “I’ve had multiple patients who have experienced some type of silent rupture. The more common scenario is that I find the rupture during an implant exchange and/or upsizing or downsizing. I discover it once I am operating on the patient, which is really the ultimate silence.”
Even if you do your best to detect a rupture, Dr. Sophie Bartsich, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, says that may not be enough. She tells us, “In the last couple years I’ve had several patients who’ve had MRIs done because there was a question about their existing silicone gel implants. I’ve found that sometimes MRIs are not actually very reliable. In some instances, a patient’s MRI said the silicone gel implant had ruptured, and then when I went in to operate on it, it actually hadn’t. I’ve had one or two patients where an MRI showed the implant wasn’t ruptured, but based on my clinical exam I really thought there was a concern, so I went in and it turned out it was ruptured.”
Are Silent Ruptures Avoidable?
Is there anything you can do to avoid a silent rupture, which will lead to revision surgery and plastic surgery recovery? The short answer is, no. According to the FDA “silicone breast implants can rupture at any time after your implant surgery, but the longer an implant is in place, the greater the possibility an implant may rupture.” Dr. Eric Desman, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Alexandria, Virginia, echoes the FDA when he tells us, “breast implants are man made devices. They’re not lifetime devices. So every implant, in my opinion, eventually will leak or rupture.” Furthermore, after removing a ruptured silicone gel breast implant, Dr. Desman says, “If the patient puts new silicone gel implants back in, then they’re just restarting the clock on the next problem or process with a leaked silicone gel implant.”
Silent Rupture and Anxiety
Occasionally, some of the best plastic surgeons will recommend replacing your silicone gel breast implants at ten years, but if they are not causing issues there is no reason for a replacement. Some women are able to keep their silicone gel breast implants for 20 years or more with no issues. However, the anxiety caused by possible silent rupture should not be discounted. In a recent independent survey, 98% of women surveyed said they would be concerned about silent rupture with silicone gel implants, 95% of women say they would want a ruptured silicone gel implant removed, even if they didn’t show symptoms, and 89% of women reported that they were less likely to choose silicone gel after learning of the FDA’s MRI recommendations. Dr. Mathew Plant, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Toronto, says “Patients have aesthetic surgery to feel better about themselves and gain some confidence that they may be missing. So the last thing that I ever want to do is put a device into someone that then gives them a whole bunch of new anxieties and keeps them up at night. If all we’ve done is trade one insecurity for another then we haven’t really accomplished anything at all.”
Plastic Surgery Recovery and Beyond
Not every women will experience a rupture in her silicone gel breast implants but it is important to know statistics about rupture rates before you choose a breast implant. Choosing a breast implant with a low rupture rate will help you avoid future surgeries. Unfortunately, many silicone gel breast implants have high rupture rates. The FDA collects this data from core clinical trials so every patient can be informed and empowered to make the best choice for her future. To compare the benefits and compromises of some of the most popular breast implants, click here.
saline breast implant leak symptoms
Getting a saline implant might be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made, and you should feel ecstatic about it. Everything’s the right size and in the right places, and looks splendid. You were so sure about this procedure that you confidently got it done without worrying so much. Or maybe there is one lingering question in your mind, can saline implants rupture, and what should I do?
The formulation for saline implants these days is more coagulated that prevents the same issues it had two decades ago, plus the capsule that holds the saline implant is now thicker and is less likely to tear or rupture. Still, it doesn’t mean that there is no chance in the universe that these will last as long as you want them. So, to help you quell your nagging – and possibly barreling thoughts in your head, here are a few questions that will help clear things out.
How Hard Is It for a Saline Implant to Rupture?
The development of saline implants over the years made the shells thicker to prevent spontaneous ruptures. Right now, with proper care, the cases of a rupture stand at only 1%. It will take significant trauma to put your implants at risk of leaking. This includes accidents (topping the list is vehicular accidents), accidental punctures during medical procedures in the area such as biopsies, or mishandling during the procedure.
Nevertheless, with a good provider such as Dr. Chang, you won’t need to worry about any of these, Especially about over or under filling the implants that can cause rupture. You won’t need to think about the possibility of defects, mishandling, or accidentally nicking the implants while you’re getting them. A superior practitioner will be able to discuss all of these with you and assure you that it should not be a reason for concern – you can quickly tell this by the practically nonexistent number of rupture or leak cases they’ve had.
What Are Saline Breast Implant Rupture Symptoms?
There are a few obvious signs that will easily compel you to say, “My saline breast implant is leaking.” This includes:
If you think you’re just getting a little paranoid, you should also note that apart from the obvious ones, there are still a couple more symptoms that should raise the red flag. This includes headaches, nausea, and some discomfort (even possible soreness) just a couple of days after the implant was installed.
Now that we’re at this part, you might now start thinking if a saline implant leak can harm your health. The answer is no. The formulations in these implants are not dangerous, they are non-toxic, and you don’t need to worry if your body gets exposed to the solution.
What Should I Do in the Event of Saline Breast Implant Rupture?
The first thing you need to do after you’ve realized your implants are leaking is not to panic. Remember that this poses no danger to your health, but it doesn’t mean you don’t need to get it fixed as soon as possible. Know that saline breast implants are not meant to last forever. These are typically good for a maximum of 10 years – assuming no accidents or trauma can cause leaks or ruptures.
You have two options: get an implant replacement surgery or implant removal surgery if you no longer want to keep your implants. However, it would help if you considered a couple of things before you make your final decision.
If you want to decide to get rid of your implants thoroughly, you must discuss this with your practitioner so they can walk you through the process. This will include providing you with the recommendation not to immediately go through with it without first understanding what will happen if you don’t get a breast lift afterward. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with extra skin on your breasts that were stretched out by the implants and will no longer snap back in place.
On the other hand, if you want to have your implants repaired, you can opt to change the size of the original ones you had. So be careful with this decision, because if you decide to increase the size, you’ll only get one shot, and changing your mind immediately after it’s done will not be wise.
how hard is it to rupture a silicone implant
It’s no secret to those who know me that I am a big fan of silicone gel breast implants—as are thousands of our Berks Plastic Surgery patients. The latest generation of smooth, round silicone gel implants look, feel, and move just like a natural breast, and we can even choose the filling consistency to dial in your desired level of breast fullness with great precision.
In sum, today’s silicone gel implants can achieve a natural looking and feeling breast augmentation better than anything we’ve had in the past.
However, as fantastic as silicone gel implants are, they do not last forever. While extremely durable—a silicone implant can withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure—there is always a small risk that the shell will tear or rupture. With silicone implants, a shell rupture can be difficult to detect on its own, hence the term “silent rupture.”
What is silent rupture?
Unlike saline implants, which noticeably deflate if the shell ruptures, silicone gel implants will maintain their shape, and there is rarely any sign that the rupture has occurred. Silent ruptures are not considered medical emergencies, as the silicone filling is too thick to easily migrate outside the breast capsule into the body. In fact, most patients who have a silent rupture experience no symptoms or side effects. However, to be on the safe side and to prevent further possible complications, a ruptured implant should be removed promptly once it is detected.
Silent ruptures are usually not considered medical emergencies, and most patients experience no symptoms or side effects. However, to be on the safe side and to prevent further complications, a ruptured implant should be removed and replaced promptly once detected.
Typically, the only way to detect and/or confirm a silent rupture is through ultrasound or MRI imaging. The FDA recommends that patients with silicone implants undergo routine imaging to monitor for silent rupture, beginning three years after their breast augmentation surgery and every two years after that. It is up to the patient to schedule and receive these tests, although we like to send reminders to our breast augmentation patients on surgery anniversary dates to help them remember when it’s time for follow-up care.
How do I know when to get breast implants replaced?
Most breast implant ruptures, silent or otherwise, occur to due to natural wear and tear as opposed to a sudden impact; this is true both saline and silicone. Studies show that rupture risk increases slightly each year for the first decade, and then rises more quickly after the ten year mark. This is why many plastic surgeons, myself included, recommend that patients schedule follow-up visits with their surgeon every 1 to 2 years and consider replacing their breast implants every ten years or so, even if there isn’t a rupture or any other problem. This is an option whether or not you have undergone recommended MRI/ultrasound tests.
Upgrading your breast implants every 10 years or so is a great way to refresh your look, take advantage of the latest implant options, and reset the clock on the risk for silent rupture.
The benefits of replacing your breast implants every so often go beyond that of avoiding or detecting a silent rupture.
As I (not so subtly) hinted in the beginning of this post, the breast implant options you have today are better than what were available a decade ago, and are likely to continue improving. Additionally, your body and breasts change over time. Your aesthetic tastes may have changed too. Upgrading your implants before there is a “problem” is a great way to refresh your look, achieve a breast shape, size, and look that best matches your current lifestyle, and reset the clock on the risk for silent rupture.
Of course, if you are unhappy with or concerned about your breast implants for any reason, at any time, you should contact your plastic surgeon to discuss options for removing or replacing them. Whenever the time comes to replace your breast implants, be sure and choose a plastic surgeon who is very experienced in breast revision procedures. If you do have a rupture, your plastic surgeon should remove both the implant and the surrounding capsule (scar tissue) before replacing a new implant, a procedure known as en bloc breast implant removal.