Current breast implants from both of the major manufacturers in the United States warranty their breast implants for life. They also provide additional funds for breast revision surgery if the implants rupture in the first 10 years.
Manufacturers currently offer $1,200 with the standard warranty and up to $2,400 with an upgraded warranty. This can significantly reduce the financial burden associated with an implant rupture.
What to do if you suffer from Ruptured Breast Implants?
If you have saline breast implants, then you will experience what is akin to a “flat tire.” Over the course of several days to weeks the implant will slowly deflate and the rupture will be quite obvious to both you and your surgeon. The implant will need to be replaced and should be done in a somewhat timely fashion.
As the implant deflates, the capsule has a tendency to shrink as well, ultimately limiting the space for the replacement implant. Routinely, the same-sized implant will be used as there is normally no need to operate on the other implant. This will maintain your pre-rupture appearance.
Deflated Left Breast Saline Implant
If you have silicone gel implants, the progression will be more subtle. Since it is more cohesive and less absorbed by the body, a ruptured silicone will likely not look terribly different. Frequently, women will notice a change – sometimes how the breast feels and more often how the upper aspect of the breast looks. This results from the gel pooling in the lower half of the capsule, making the upper aspect less “full.”
A formal diagnosis is hard to make without an MRI, but if there is enough clinical suspicion we would likely proceed with surgery. The cost of an MRI can be close to that of the entire surgery.
How is the Treatment Performed?
In most cases, the exchange procedure is relatively straightforward, using the old breast incision (axillary/armpit or belly button incisions cannot be used for revision surgeries) the old implant is removed, the capsule adjustments are made and the new implant is reinserted into the new pocket.
What Happens During Recovery?
The recovery is normally much less involved, especially in the case of implants placed beneath the muscle, as the muscle stretch is normally the most painful aspect of the surgery.
After a few days, most women are able to go back to their normal routine aside from exercise. Pain is regularly mild compared to the first breast augmentation.
What to do if I think an Implant Rupture Occurs?
Contact your plastic surgeon soon and be seen for an inpatient evaluation to determine what your current issues are and to plan the next steps to remedy the problem.
*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.
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