What to Do If Your Implant Ruptures

Hundreds of thousands of women undergo breast augmentation annually, with over 250,000 breast implant procedures performed in the U.S. alone in 2022. Once you’ve healed from your surgery, you can go about your life and enjoy your new body contour for years. But what do you do in the rare case if your implant ruptures?

Below, we offer an overview of what you need to know about breast implant ruptures and what to do if you discover a rupture.

How Common is a Breast Implant Rupture?

Breast implants are designed to be durable and long lasting. While they may weaken over time and be more susceptible to rupture or deflation, breast implant rupture only happens to about 1% of patients annually.

What Causes Breast Implant Ruptures?

Breast implant ruptures can be caused by several things, including:

• Trauma to your breast from a severe impact, like a car accident
• Aging implants that become less stable with age
• Capsular contracture after breast augmentation surgery
• Surgical errors during augmentation surgery
• Over-compression during a mammogram
• Puncture from a needle during a biopsy
• Overfilling a saline implant

It may seem like nearly anything could rupture your breast implant, but don’t worry. Remember that most patients never have issues with their implants and enjoy the benefits of their breast implants for several years.

How Do I Know if My Breast Implant is Ruptured?

Saline

If your saline implant ruptures, you’ll likely know almost immediately. The affected breast will look noticeably smaller or deflated. You may notice ripples or be able to see the edges of the implant under your skin. Your body will safely absorb the saline solution that has leaked out.

Silicone

The silicone gel used in breast implants is very thick. When a silicone implant ruptures, you may not know it immediately because the gel usually stays within the capsule created for the implant during breast augmentation surgery. However, you may experience pain or tenderness or notice your breasts feel harder. You may also see a change in the shape or size of your breast. However, many silicone implant leaks are “silent,” meaning there are no easily noticeable symptoms.

Most ruptures in silicone breast implants can be detected with an MRI. The FDA recommends scheduling an MRI scan three years after your surgery and every two years after to ensure your breast implants are holding up as designed.

What Do I Do if My Breast Implant Ruptures?

While the saline and silicone used in breast implants are safe, it is recommended that you undergo surgery to remove the damaged implant as soon as possible. Leaving a damaged implant in can result in the silicone migrating to your lymph nodes, causing pain and increasing scar tissue in your breast capsule, requiring more involved surgery.

Options for Breast Revision

If your breast implant has ruptured, Dr. Alexander offers the following options:

Breast Implant Removal With Lift

Maybe your breast implant has ruptured, and you decide that you don’t want to replace it and instead go back to your natural breasts. However, once the implant is removed, your breasts may be a bit droopier than before. A breast implant removal with lift can be performed to ensure that your smaller, lighter breasts look gorgeous and youthful.

Breast Implant Exchange

After an implant rupture, you must schedule removal surgery as soon as possible. Dr. Alexander will perform a breast implant exchange, removing and replacing the damaged implant with a new one. If you experienced capsular contracture, you may also need a capsulectomy at the same time to ensure the best result.

Learn More About Breast Augmentation in Las Vegas

When you want to enhance your figure with a breast augmentation procedure, you want a board-certified, skilled, and experienced plastic surgeon, especially if the implant ever ruptures. Dr. Alexander’s high-quality patient care and proven, beautiful results have made him the surgeon to choose in Las Vegas for over 20 years. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Alexander, call 702-242-6776 or fill out our online contact form.