What if My Breast Implant Ruptures?

Today’s breast implants are more durable and long-lasting than ever before, but they are still not indestructible. Over time, your breast implants will wear out and may become more prone to rupture. Ruptured breast implants always need to be replaced, but the effects of a leaking breast implant will be different depending on the specific type of breast implant you had placed during your breast augmentation.

When a saline breast implant ruptures, the salt-water solution that is inside of the implant will quickly leak out into your body. Because this solution is entirely natural, your body will absorb it without any adverse effects. Saline breast implant ruptures are immediately noticeable, since the breast implant will “deflate,” similar to a balloon that has lost its air. This is both a benefit and a drawback: you will know exactly when a rupture occurs, but your breasts’ appearance will change drastically.

Meanwhile, it is not always possible to tell when a silicone breast implant has ruptured. The cohesive gel that forms the inside of a silicone implant is designed to stay in place if a rupture occurs. Some women experience numbness, swelling, or tenderness in their breasts after a silicone implant rupture, but others have no symptoms at all. Because of this, it is important to have yearly MRIs performed to check on the status of your silicone breast implants.

If you have further questions about breast implant ruptures, please contact us today to schedule a consultation with experienced Albany breast surgeon Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha, MD. We serve breast surgery patients throughout Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Schenectady, New York.