Breast Implants and Associated Dangers

Records show that approximately 3% of breast implants will deflate due to leakage surrounded by three years of being fitted.

Occasionally, breast implants may rupture which will cause the saline contents (salty water) to enter the body. Fortunately this is not harmful, although the inconvenience of having a replacement breast implant is of evident interest.

Older silicone implants are also prone to leakage through normal wear and tear.
In this event, breakage of the implant may not be easily noticed if it happens in part of the shell that contains a contracture, which is a tightening of scar tissue around the implant.

If on the other hand, the shell tears in a place devoid of a contracture scar, leakage into the adjacent body tissue occurs, ensuing in a sensation that the breast implant is really deflating.

This gel that leaks may settle in the breast, forming a new scar. It is also possible for the gel to travel through the lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

Perhaps the largest problem caused by breakage of breast implants is the requirement of another operation to replace the faulty implant. In instances where the gel has traveled to other parts of the body, it is not always possible to ensure removal of all the gel, and this silicone has been associated by some to disorders of connective tissue.

For both silicone gel implants and those filled with saline, causes of breakage have been associated to many things, including:
Destruction done during surgery,

Overfilling of implants with saline solution

Tightening of scar tissue around the wound (capsular contracture),

Stresses from rough physical handling ,

Excessive compression from mammography,

Physical injuries to the breast,

and normal wear and tear with age

An FDA study of ruptured silicone gel breast implants exposed that 69% of the 344 women surveyed had suffered one two ruptured implants. The study took place in Alabama and utilized a MRI scan to reveal the condition of their implants.

Thankfully, modern technology has seen advancements in the field of breast implantation, but decisions on this, or any type of ornamental surgery should not be taken lightly.