Implant Rupture

A Blog about Ruptured Implants by Dr. Loftus

Rupture rates for breast implants are low. However, it is important to know how to monitor for rupture so that you can keep your result looking great. Determining this is different for silicone and saline implants.

For saline implants, a rupture is obvious soon after it occurs. The size of your breast will decrease as the salt-water leaks and is absorbed by your body (which is mostly made of salt water).

For silicone implants, it is not as obvious because the silicone gel is thick like pudding and is not absorbed. In fact, it usually remains inside the scar tissue capsule that naturally forms around the implant. You may notice a change in shape or feel or you may not notice anything different. An unnoticed rupture is called a "silent rupture." Scientific evidence does not show any risk of illness in this situation, but you may have a higher chance of developing capsular contracture. The FDA recommends MRIs after augmentation with silicone breast implants to monitor for ruptures since they are less noticeable than with saline implants. An MRI is recommended every 2 years, starting 3 years after your augmentation.

In the event of a rupture, first understand that this is not a medical emergency. You do not need to drop everything you are doing and rush to the hospital. You will probably feel like this is a cosmetic emergency. The solution for a broken implant is generally to remove the old implant and replace it with a new implant. This can usually be done through the same incision without giving you an additional scar. We go out of our way to schedule these procedures quickly to get you looking better fast. Rupture does not happen very frequently, but it is reassuring to know that if it does occur, it is fixable.

Contact us to set up a consultation to discuss breast augmentation.