My silicone implants are leeking and I'm having a lot of problems with my joints (knees, shoulders, ankles, hips). I was told it was from the silicone going thru my body.
First. Leaking implants should be removed and replaced.
Second. The Institute of Medicine study and over 400 peer-reviewed medical studies showed no correlation between silicone implants and systemic disease.
Third. the new generation of silicone implants have been designed that even it there is a tear in the outer shell, the silicone inside should not leak out.
Do talk to your local Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for details and the best option for you...
June,
Depending on how old your silicone breast implants are, they are either the cohesive gel implants (currently approved by the FDA) or the previous generation of implants. The older (2nd generation) implants were made with a thinner shell and the silicone gel inside was more liquid. These implants were know to leak more readily but retrospective studies have not supported the thought that the silicone migrates throuout your body. The current 3rd generation implants have been exhaustively studied by the FDA and were released for use in Nov 2006. The gel in these implants is thicker and the shells are thicjer and more durable as well. A fairly comprehensive compliation of iformation about the safety of silicone breast implants can be found at www.breastimplantsafety.org.
If in fact your implants have been found to not be intact by MRI or mammogram, you should consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options for treatment.
Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS
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