Implants, such as silicone breast implants, do have the potential to burst, although it is rare. Bursting can occur when the implant shell weakens or when the implant becomes overfilled. If an implant bursts, it can leak its silicone material into the surrounding breast tissue or elsewhere in the body.
In most cases, an implant will not burst immediately. Instead, it is more likely that an implant ruptures slowly over time, which can cause the implant to feel lumpy and uncomfortable. In some cases, the symptoms of a rupturing implant can be mistaken for other issues, such as infection, and can easily go undetected.
The only way to be sure that an implant is intact is to have a scan done with a special camera.
If an implant is leaking, it will need to be removed and replaced, which can require surgery. Additionally, depending on the severity of the leak and where the silicone has spread to, it might require additional procedures and treatments.
Therefore, it is important to always keep up with regular check-ups with a qualified medical specialist.
What happens if your implant bursts?
If your implant bursts, it is important to seek medical help right away. Depending on the type of implant, you may experience some signs or symptoms of a ruptured implant such as breast pain, swelling, bruising, changes in the size or shape of the implant, lumps in the breast area, a sudden decrease or increase in breast size, the migration of the implant to a different area of the body, and a loss of sensation in the area of the implant.
Medical attention is imperative to determine the cause of the rupture and develop a plan of care. Depending on the individual situation, a doctor may recommend medical monitoring and tests to check for any leakage of the implant fluid or silicone from the burst implant.
Further, if a ruptured implant is not removed, it can lead to infection, inflammation, and other serious health complications. In some cases, a doctor may recommend surgical removal of the burst implant to avoid these risks.
It is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible if you think your implant has ruptured. They will provide personalized guidance on the best course of action.
Is a ruptured implant an emergency?
A ruptured implant is usually not an emergency, however, if it is causing pain and/or other symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. Signs of a ruptured implant could include swelling, tenderness, visible rippling or lumps in the breast, or drainage from the implant.
If you are experiencing any of those symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. In some cases, a ruptured implant can put you at risk for infection, so it is important to seek medical attention if you think you may have a ruptured implant.
It is also important to be aware of any changes in the way the implant looks or feels.
Can a ruptured implant make you sick?
Yes, it is possible for a ruptured implant to make you sick. Implants may contain certain chemicals, such as silicone, that can leak into your body if the implant ruptures. If the implant is not removed promptly or the leaking chemicals are not adequately treated, they can lead to serious health problems.
Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, fever, rash, memory problems, depression, and swollen lymph nodes. Additionally, the chemicals can migrate through your body, causing inflammation in other organs.
In some cases, a ruptured implant may also cause infection. If you suspect your implant has ruptured, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Can you leave a ruptured breast implant in?
No, you cannot leave a ruptured breast implant in your body. A ruptured breast implant means that the shell of the implant, made of silicone or saline, has broken, allowing the concoction inside to escape.
This can cause a variety of issues, including pain, discomfort, change in breast shape, tissue damage, and even foreign body reactions. Therefore, it’s important to get the ruptured breast implant removed as soon as possible and replaced with a new one.
Leaving it in can be highly dangerous to your health, as the leaked silicone or saline can accumulate in your body and present serious health risks. It’s also important to note that the FDA recommends that patients have their breast implants replaced at least every 10 years.
Therefore, even if your implant hasn’t ruptured, it’s important to keep up with regular check-ups and keep an eye out for any changes or signs of a ruptured implant.
What are the signs of a ruptured implant?
The signs of a ruptured implant vary depending on the type of implant. Generally speaking, signs of a ruptured implant can include pain, tenderness or swelling around the implant, a lump or visible indentation in the breast, or discharge from the implant.
In some cases an MRI will be necessary to confirm if an implant is ruptured. Other signs can include a change in the shape or size of the affected breast. Depending on the type of implant, leakage or deflation of the implant may occur, leading to a noticeable change in the sizes of the breasts.
In rare cases a ruptured implant can cause a condition called an implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which may present with fatigue, fever, rash, swelling in the arms or legs, persistent itching, or swollen lymph nodes in the armpit.
If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, it is important to speak to your doctor right away.
Does insurance cover removal of ruptured breast implants?
In some cases, yes, insurance may cover the removal of ruptured breast implants. However, each insurance policy is different and what is covered depends on the specific plan and any existing exclusions or limitations.
In most cases, the insurance company will send a representative to assess the situation and determine if it meets the requirements for insurance coverage. Also, the specific location of the rupture will determine the type of procedure that may be covered.
If the rupture is located near the surface of the skin, insurance may cover its removal through a simple procedure known as an incision and capsulectomy. On the other hand, if the rupture is located deeper within the breast tissue, a more extensive procedure such as breast implant replacement may be required and is not always covered under insurance.
The best way to determine if your specific removal procedure is covered by your insurance is to speak with your insurance provider and/or your healthcare provider.
How common is implant rupture?
Implant rupture is quite common among women with breast implants, with around 1 in 8 women with implants experiencing implant rupture within 10 years of having their initial procedure. Around 40% of women will experience an implant rupture within 10 years if opting for silicone implants, and around around 14% of women with saline implants will experience implant rupture within 10 years.
The chance of rupture increases with age, so it is important that women with breast implants are monitored regularly by their surgeon, to check for any signs of rupture. The safest way to detect rupture is through MRI scans, so it is advisable to have this done at least once every 2-3 years.
It is also important to keep any documents related to the implants to make it easier to identify any ruptured implants.
What happens if a ruptured breast implant is not removed?
If a ruptured breast implant is not removed, serious complications can occur. These can include infection, tissue damage due to the leak of silicone gel, capsular contracture (scar tissue forming which can cause pain), abnormal formations of the breast, interruption of normal breast tissue growth, interference with medical imaging such as mammograms, persistent pain and/or swelling, and rupture of the adjacent tissue (around the implant).
All of these complications can result in the need for medical intervention, often in the form of implant removal and/or replacement. Additionally, a rupture is a sign that the implant may have been compromised and may no longer control the rate at which bio-compatible material enters the body, resulting in a plethora of additional, more severe complications.
In some cases, the patient may have to have additional surgery to repair or replace other organs or tissue that have been damaged by the leaked material. A ruptured breast implant should always be removed, as leaving it in place can result in a wide range of serious and potentially long-term health issues.
What causes implants to rupture?
Implants can rupture for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, rupture is caused by thinning of the scar tissue surrounding the implant, although it is not fully understood why it may thin over time. Factors that may contribute to thinning include: age, weight, and the size and type of the implant.
Another reason implants may rupture is due to the thinning or aging of the implant material itself, or due to the breakdown of the silicone shell of the implant. Also, women with a history of breast cancer who have undergone radiation therapy may experience an increased risk of implant rupture.
Finally, traumatic injury or aggressive massage near the implant area may cause an implant to rupture. In any case, a ruptured implant should be taken seriously and evaluated promptly by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
What does it feel like when your breast implant ruptures?
When a breast implant ruptures, it can feel like a deflated balloon inside the breast. Depending on the location of the rupture and the type of implant, other symptoms may also be present such as pain, swelling, changes in breast shape, or a feeling of hardness.
In some cases, the ruptured implant may also leak silicone gel, which can cause discomfort or tenderness in the breast tissue. In some cases, there may not be any visible symptoms of breast implant rupture and the rupture can only be identified during an ultrasound or MRI.
In these cases, the patient may experience a feeling of displacement or heaviness in the breast if the implant is overfilled. If a person suspects her implant has ruptured, she should seek medical attention to have it checked out as soon as possible.
How can you tell if your implant is leaking?
If your implant is leaking, the most common signs and symptoms you may experience are changes in your breasts, including changes in size or shape, tenderness and pain, a lump near the implant, a feeling of fluid movement beneath the skin, or fluid discharge from your nipple.
If you suspect that your implant is leaking, contact your physician. Your physician will be able to confirm whether or not the implant has ruptured, and can recommend the best course of action for your particular case.
Depending on the type of implant, the rupture can be repaired, or the implant may need to be replaced. If your implant is leaking, it is important to have it evaluated and addressed by a qualified professional as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of further complications or systemic health problems that could result from the leaking material.
Is it common for breast implants to leak?
No, it is not common for breast implants to leak. The latest-generation breast implants are made of a more advanced type of silicone material, which is generally stronger and more stable than older generations of implants.
Additionally, the risk of implant rupture is significantly lower today than it was even just a few years ago. Certain types of implants, such as saline implants, are considered to be particularly low-risk for leaks and ruptures.
That being said, breast implants are not designed to last forever, and eventually some sort of implant-related complication is likely to occur. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, most implant rupture rates after 10 years of implantation is estimated to be between 10-14%.
Implant leakage can occur due to different factors, such as aggressive compression during mammography, blunt trauma to the chest area, capsular contracture, or erosion of the implant shell over time.
This is why, it is highly recommended to follow very strict follow-up and monitoring instructions provided by your physician over the years, in order to avoid any potential problems with implant integrity.
Additionally, having annual breast composition screenings is also key to maintaining healthy implants.
Can a breast implant have a slow leak?
Yes, a breast implant can have a slow leak. This is known as a “silent rupture” and occurs when the implant begins to leak slowly over a period of time. The most common cause of a slow leak is an accumulation of body fluid which is known as a seroma, this happens when body tissues have not healed properly to form a tight seal around the implant, leading to a weakening of the implant and an eventual slow leak.
Other causes of a slow leak can include damage to the shell of the implant due to trauma or sharp objects, aging of the implant, manufacturing defects or impaired healing from the surgery. Slow leaks are difficult to detect as they can happen without any signs or symptoms and can be undetected until it is too late.
It is important to regularly monitor your implants after the surgery and to seek medical attention if you detect any changes such as a decrease in size, firmness, or feel any unusual discomfort.
Can an ultrasound detect a leaking breast implant?
Yes, an ultrasound can be used to detect a leaking breast implant. Ultrasound is a non-invasive, safe imaging technique that uses sound waves to create images of the internal structures of the body. During an ultrasound, a transducer is moved over the area of interest and produces sound waves that bounce off tissue and produce “echoes” that are detected by the device and used to create an image on a computer screen.
For breast implant evaluation, a Doppler ultrasound can be used to look at the implant itself and the surrounding area. This can help to detect any leakage of the implant or any accumulation of fluid, which can be a sign of a leaking implant.
Additionally, if the implant is off-center, is asymmetrical, or is not filling up correctly, this can also be determined with an ultrasound. It is important to note that an ultrasound is not as effective at detecting issues with the muscle/breast tissue surrounding the implant.
To accurately determine if the implant is leaking or if there is any issue with the surrounding tissue, an MRI may be a better option.
