Can a saline implant have a slow leak? (2024)

Can a saline implant have a slow leak?

Signs of deflation and detecting leakage from an implant include soreness, change in shape, redness, loss of volume, and sometimes capsular contracture. These signs may be subtle and a history of trauma may be the only early indicator.

How do I know if my saline implant is leaking?

Signs of deflation and detecting leakage from an implant include soreness, change in shape, redness, loss of volume, and sometimes capsular contracture. These signs may be subtle and a history of trauma may be the only early indicator.

What happens if a saline implant leaks?

Ruptured saline implant

If a saline breast implant tears, the implant will flatten. This will change the size and shape of the breast. Leaking saline solution isn't a health risk. But removing the silicone shell requires surgery.

How do I know when to replace my saline implants?

What to do if saline implant deflates?

A deflated implant can be safely removed and replaced in a surgical procedure similar to the original breast augmentation. Usually the same breast augmentation incision is used to approach the deflated implant.

How do you diagnose a leaking breast implant?

An imaging test, such as an MRI or ultrasound, can show whether the implant has ruptured. If you have a silent rupture — one that's not causing signs or symptoms — your plastic surgeon will explain possible treatment options.

How long can a ruptured saline implant stay in?

Because saline implants are filled with saltwater, any leakage will be absorbed by your body and excreted through your urine. Complete deflation may take a day or two (if there is a large hole in the implant shell) or could take weeks or months (with a smaller leak).

Should I have my saline implants removed?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends that people with breast implants have them removed or replaced every 10 to 15 years. However, your plastic surgeon may not recommend that you have them removed if you haven't had any complications.

Does insurance cover removal of ruptured breast implants?

Your physician must believe that removing your implants is medically necessary and be able to convince your insurer that their removal is medically necessary. This means that there is a medical reason for removing them that by doing so, will improve your health or will cure a condition the implants caused.

Can a leaking implant make you sick?

Leaking implants or infections can lead to chronic fatigue or other conditions that can impair day-to-day life and cause issues working out or socializing. Some people have even mentioned trouble breathing and muscle cramps as side-effects of their implants.

How often should saline implants be checked?

For most saline breast implant patients, having your implants checked every 5 to 10 years is reasonable. Also, regardless of what type of breast implants you have, do go in for scheduled mammograms as recommended by your doctor.

What happens to saline breast implants over time?

Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Yarinsky, explains that while breast implants last for many years, they should not be considered lifetime medical devices. They can rupture or leak, and saline implants may deflate.

Can saline implants be filled more?

A: Yes, you have the option of increasing the size of the breasts with revision breast augmentation. If you have saline implants, we may be able to add more saline to the existing implants in order to increase the size.

How fast do saline implants deflate?

In general, saline implants deflate around 10% to 12% of the time at ten years. This is not a straight line progression for 3 to 4 % may deflate in the first 3 years, and the deflation rate at 20 years is likely 30 % or more.

What happens to saline breast implants after 20 years?

On average, today's implants are designed to last more than a decade, with the chance of rupture increasing by one percent each year. So, the older your implants are, the greater your risk of rupture or other complications. In many cases, breast implants can remain in good shape for 20 years or more.

How much pressure does it take to rupture a saline implant?

Today's breast implants are extremely durable, and can withstand tremendous amounts of pressure before rupturing: about 175 pounds for saline, and up to 300 or so for silicone gel. This is far more pressure than a mammogram comes even close to applying.

Can mammogram tell if implant is leaking?

Mammograms are the best early detection method for breast cancer. And contrary to what some people believe, they are essential if you have breast implants. Indeed, regular mammograms for women with implants can help identify issues such as a rupture or leakage.

Can a mammogram detect a leaking implant?

Mammography has a reported sensitivity of 11–69% for detection of implant rupture. Extracapsular rupture of silicone can be recognized mammographically as dense silicone in breast tissue.

What percentage of breast implants leak?

In the United States, breast implant rupture rates range from 1.1% to 17.7% at six to 10 years after primary augmentation, 2.9% to 14.7% after revision augmentation, 1.5% to 35.4% after primary breast reconstruction, and 0% to 19.6% after revision reconstruction.

What are the symptoms of saline implant mold?

Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, brain fog and rash. Healthcare providers diagnose BII by ruling out other conditions. Treatment involves implant removal.

What can cause a saline implant to rupture?

An implant rupture can be caused by many things, including impact to the breast, surgical error, cracks that develop over time, or, rarely, pressure exerted during a mammogram. Both saline and silicone implants are equally vulnerable to implant rupture, though the implications differ for each type, as explained below.

What are the cons of saline implants?

Do saline implants sag over time?

While breast implants are considered durable, long-lasting devices, they are not meant to last indefinitely. For women with saline implants specifically, a natural loss of implant volume may occur over time. Other patients may experience implant displacement or simply have a change in their personal preferences.

Can saline implants be removed in office?

Yes, you can remove the implants under local anesthesia. I often deflate the saline implants in the office (using local anesthesia) a few weeks beforehand, so you can know what your breast size and shape will be.

How painful is a ruptured breast implant?

Regardless of the type of breast implants you have, a rupture will likely cause some tenderness and possibly some pain in your breast. For patients with a saline rupture pain may occur as a result of the loss of shape and the resulting sagging of the breast skin.