Which Breast Implants Are More Likely to Rupture?

asked 3 years ago by Angel123 in Washington
Latest answer by John P. Di Saia, MD
Question viewed 428 times

Are Saline Breast Implants more likely to rupture than Silicone Breast Implants?

6 answers to Which Breast Implants Are More Likely to Rupture?

All implants have a risk of rupture

Different studies quote different rates of rupture for both saline and silicone implants, so it really depends on what you read. The take home message is that both carry a risk of rupture-- with salines, you know (the implant will deflate as your body absorbs the saline) but with silicone, often you don't without an imaging study (MRI). It's important to discuss the pros and cons of each type of implant with your surgeon so that he may review everything with you first, prior to choosing... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Rupture rate of breast implants only part of the story

Hello, Rupture rate is only part of the story. Silicone gel implants leak silicone into your body and many women's bodies respond to this with more scar tissue over the long term. So you need to think of which is worse: ruptured saline implants or hardened silicone gel with scarring in your breasts. It is all a matter of personal choice.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Other things to consider other than "rupture rate.".

No one has good data to be able to answer your question exactly. The word “rupture,” however, means different things in the two kinds of implants. Also, it means different things when applied to the different generations of silicone implants. All that is required for deflation of a saline implant is a small pinpoint hole. The saline then leaks out and is absorbed by the body. To detect a “rupture” of a silicone implant, the rent needs to be larger and the silicone... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

All implants will fail in time...

Hi there- IT's best to think of your implants as you would a new car- even if you buy a really nice one, you know that sooner or later, you're going to need to replace it... Today's implants are much better than the ones we used only a few years ago, and they are constantly being improved, but will always be man-made devices- and so will fail over time for one reason or another. Until then, they have been proven to have a very high level of patient satisfaction and safety. Find a surgeon certifi more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Agree the term rupture is misused as it relates to breast implants

In my experience, I have found that saline implants deflate more frequently than current generation silicone implants. As has been stated previously when a saline implant deflates, your body will reabsorb it safely and the implant will need to be replaced. Dr. Edwards

Michael C. Edwards, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

www.medwardsmd.com

Rupture not the right term

Two things: First, the term "rupture" is used routinely but it sort of implies that implants explode. A crack can develop in the shell from wear and tear, and in the case of silicone it is a silent event because the gel inside is a semi-solid (cohesive). It doesn't go anywhere. With saline, the solution is absorbed into the body and so the implants deflates. Neither situation is harmful. Second, there is no way to truly know what the rate of these occurrences is. You would have to... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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