Breast augmentation is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. In 2008, breast enhancement ranked first ahead of liposuction, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) with over 300,000 procedures. Currently, the FDA has two main types of implants available for breast enlargement surgery: saline or silicone gel filled breast implants. Implant rupture is inevitable for either saline or silicone gel filled implants. Treatment approaches for ruptured implants are similar but detection of the ruptured implants differ with the two types of implants.
Breast implants used in breast surgery are not permanent devices. All breast implants will eventually rupture for wear and tear over time. This may take decades to occur.
Saline filled breast implant was the most common type of breast implant used for http://nanamd.com/breast/breast-augmentation-louisville-kentucky/#mce_temp_url# procedures during the last 20 years (only FDA approved device for over 15 years). These implants are filled to the desired volume at the time of surgery using a special filling tube. There is a valve that seals the implant. Overtime, a tear may develop on the outer shell. The saline will then leak through the implant resulting in implant deflation. Your implant capsule harmlessly absorbs saline. The actual time period of deflation is usually rapid but may take as long as a week or more.
Silicone gel filled breast implants are now re-approved by the FDA since 2006. The gel implants are rapidly becoming the most common type of breast implant used for breast surgery in the United States. In my practice in Louisville, Kentucky, silicone gel filled implants are used in 80% of women seeking breast augmentation. These implants are prefilled by the manufacture prior to insertion. There are no valves. Overtime, the outer shell will tear. Although some leakage of silicone may occur, the newer silicone gels in the implants are stickier (cohesive) and most of the gel will stay in the implant. This makes implant rupture more difficult to detect. Some silicone gel implants ruptures are asymptomatic and are discovered by radiological exams such as mammograms, ultrasound, or MRI. While others require strong clinical suspicion such as breast pain, lumps in breasts, and distorted breast shape.
Saline breast implant rupture is treated by removal of the old implant and replacement with a new implant. Most surgeons will recommend replacing the other unaffected implant if the implants were placed over five years ago. Ruptured saline implants should be replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
Any symptomatic silicone gel implant rupture should be treated with removal with or without replacement of the implant. The treatment of asymptomatic gel implant rupture is controversial. I recommend removal and replacement in a reasonable amount of time.
If you have questions about breast implant rupture or breast surgical procedure, please call today and ask for Dr. Mizuguchi :502.899.9979
