Although technological advancements have greatly prolonged the life of modern breast implants and many of these specialized devices now last upwards of twenty years, unfortunately, in some instances, both saline and silicone breast implants can break. In the event of a rupture, explantation surgery is required to remove the implant. Thus, before undergoing a breast augmentation, it is crucial to be aware of the potential risks and complications associated with this surgery.
Since saline implants contain salt-water, when they break, the implant deflates as the saline is quickly absorbed. As a result, the breast will appear deflated. Luckily, since saline is safe for your body, the body absorbs the implant fluid with no adverse effects. The pocket will contract relatively quickly, so replacement should not be delayed. If bacteria are present within the saline, its rupture can mean the risk of infection. Thus, if after one of your implants has ruptured, you feel sick or develop a fever or rash, it is important to visit your doctor right away to begin a course of antibiotics and schedule its removal.
Silicone implants are made up of a thick, cohesive-gel and surrounded by a strong, rubbery shell. As a result, when ruptured, they don’t leak the way that previous liquid silicone did, but hold together with a Jell-O consistency. It will usually require a significant impact to rupture modern silicone cohesive gel implants. If a shell is breached and not exchanged, over time the implant material may change shape and extrude from the shell.While in many instances the silicone remains inside the surrounding tissue capsule, in other cases, it is possible for silicone to move beyond the scar tissue capsule, so if you suspect a rupture, proper imaging should be done. While a broken gel implant may not be as obvious as a broken saline implant, you may detect a small change in the shape or size of your breast and an Ultrasound or MRI can be done to check for potential leakage.
In the event of rupture, planning to undergo explantation surgery in order to remove the implant will be necessary. Because explantation surgery can be much more complex than a breast augmentation, it is important to ensure that you select a highly qualified surgeon who is experienced removing ruptured implants. The surgeon must take great care to ensure that the silicone gel is thoroughly removed and determine if scar tissue must be removed along with it. Although all breast implants have the potential to rupture, recent advancements have strengthened their shells with multiple, reinforced layers, improving their longevity and minimizing the risk of breakage. Before electing to undergo a breast augmentation, it is important to be aware that breast implants are not guaranteed to last forever. To learn more about this procedure, or explantation surgery, please contact our clinic to schedule a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons.
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