Breast implants have a silicone shell that is very durable and can last for decades under ideal circumstances. However, breast implants are not considered lifetime devices, which means they may need to be removed or replaced with cosmetic breast surgery. When the silicone shell ruptures, the saline or silicone inside may leak and cause medical or aesthetic concerns. At pēkomd®, we offer breast implant rupture repair surgery at our plastic surgery center in Toledo, OH.
Breast implant ruptures or leaks can occur due to normal wear and tear, or due to trauma to the implant. The silicone shell may wear down and begin to lose the saline or silicone inside gradually, or a puncture or impact to the breast could result in a rupture. Saline implant ruptures will result in a quick deflation of the breast. The saline will leak out and be absorbed by the body, but the breast will look flatter and changed in appearance.
With silicone implants, there may not be any immediate symptoms of a rupture. Silicone gel can leak, but it will stay in the breast area. Eventually, it can cause symptoms including breast pain or deformity. It is recommended that patients with silicone implants have an MRI every three years to check for ruptures.
Replacing Damaged Breast Implants
If a breast implant is ruptured, removal is required to minimize health risks. Even if only one implant is ruptured, it is usually recommended to replace both implants at the same time. This can limit the number of surgeries needed and ensure both breast implants are the same age, size and shape. Breast implant rupture replacement surgery is an opportunity to increase or decrease the size of the implants, if desired. Patients can also decide to have their implants removed completely, but may want a breast lift to improve the shape of their natural breasts.
While breast implant ruptures sound scary, repair surgery can restore your breasts quickly and safely. If you have symptoms of a breast implant rupture, contact our team at pēkomd® in Toledo, OH, to schedule an implant repair or replacement consultation today.
