What to Do if Your Breast Implant Ruptures
Your breast augmentation may have been exactly what you needed to improve your confidence, accentuate your hourglass figure, and feel at home in your body, but when an implant ruptures, you may not know where to turn or how to proceed.
At Devlin Cosmetic Surgery: Michael Devlin, M.D., serving Conway, AR, Hot Springs, AR, and Little Rock, AR, we can remove and replace your breast implants. Here’s what you need to know about ruptures and what to do if your breast implant ruptures.
How You Know if Your Implant Has Ruptured
Implant rupture can happen due to a variety of things like normal aging of the implant and trauma to the implant. Signs of a breast implant rupture include:
- Pain or discomfort that increases over a period of weeks
- A deflated, smaller, or deformed appearance
- Firmness and swelling in the breast
- Lumps or ripples in the breast
- Capsular contracture
While many women who have a ruptured implant experience one or more of these signs, some women who have received silicone implants experience no signs at all. This is why it's so important to screen yourself for implant rupture.
Screening for Implant Rupture
We recommend that all people who have received breast implants screen for implant rupture regularly. You can do this by:
- Examining your breasts for signs of rupture
- Receiving an ultrasound or MRI every 2 years to detect a silent rupture although this is not economically feasable in most cases.
Many implants can remain in good condition for 10 to 20 years or more, but routine screenings can help detect implant rupture if it does occur.
Implant Types and What a Rupture Entails
Breast implants are made of a filling and silicone shell that can become torn. When this happens, it is called an implant rupture. Implant rupture is a little different depending on the type of implant you received.
Saline Implant
When a saline implant ruptures, the saline leaks out quickly over the course of a few days. You’ll know quickly that your implant has ruptured. Saline solution is sterile and can be safely absorbed by the body.
Though it’s not a health risk, a ruptured saline implant is often a cosmetic concern that a surgeon can correct with removal or replacement.
Silicone Implant
Silicone gel is thicker than saline, so when silicone implants rupture, the gel leaks out more slowly. It may take longer for you to realize that your implant has ruptured, and you may not realize it at all.
Silicone gel cannot be absorbed by the body and should be removed by a surgeon as soon as possible.
Diagnosing Implant Rupture
If you think you have a ruptured implant, schedule an MRI so a medical professional can check the area. If the MRI confirms you have a ruptured implant, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a surgeon who can remove it. While you don’t have to replace the implant, Dr. Devlin may be able to remove your ruptured implant and replace it in the same procedure.
Restore Your Breast Augmentation Results - Reach Out Today
Voted the best cosmetic surgeon in Arkansas, Dr. Devlin's artistic eye and surgical skills provide natural-looking breast augmentation results that can enhance your figure beautifully. Don’t wait to restore your bustline - contact our Little Rock office today.