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Can Leaking Saline Breast Implants Cause Lumps?
It doesn't seem possible but my breast implants are 28 years old! I know they have leaked (saline), and now they are uncomfortable when I'm lying down. Also, it might've caused this hard lump that I've had for many years. It's probably not cancer because I should've been dead from it. Got no insurance or money to take care of it, darn it. Can this be a hardened saline deposit? And what should I do about it?
Asked 41 months ago by
Amy Martin in Irvine, CA
+3
You should never assume any hard lumps in the breasts...
You should never assume any hard lumps in the breasts are from implants and not evaluate them properly. This is true for silicone or saline. You should go to UC Irvine and have them check on you please.
+2
Breast Lump Demands Attention!
If you have a lump in your breast, it MUST be evaluated by a physician, as soon as possible!
Saline does not leave deposits that can harden or form a lump.
A deflated implant can feel like a lump, but it would be a mistake to blame the lump on the implant without proper evaluation.
+2
I agree with Dr Rand
Amy,
There are ways that you can have this lump evaluated with an exam and mammogram. October is breast cancer awareness month and you should seek out a mammography center offering power costs mammograms at the least. As stated previously you should not write off a breast bump or lump as being due to the implant. If a saline implant is deflated, you can feel the shell through thin tissue but the resulting feeling is not typically described as a "hard lump".
Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS
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+1
Breast mass and silicone or saline implants
All breast abnormalities demand examination and management. I would seek the advice of a surgeon who can do a competent breast examination and evaluation.
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1
A deflated saline implant can cause a lump but not within the breast tissue.
A saline implant can cause a palpable lump if it deflates. The saline is completely removed by the body and has no participation in this. The silicone shell is folded and forms the lump. Nevertheless, it could be mistaken for another problem and you should have this looked after insurance or not.
+1
Implants and lumps
Any hard lump in the breast should be evaluated by a physician immediately! A leaking saline implant will not cause a lump as the saline (salt water) will be absorbed by your body as it leaks out. A leaking silicone implant, on the other hand, could potentially lead to a lump if a silicone granuloma forms. It is possible to feel the shell of the implant, which can be firm in texture, especially after leakage. Also, capsular contracture around the implant can cause...
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+1
Breast lump from leaking saline implants
It may be that the "lump" you feel is actually the implant shell, which becomes irregular as the implant deflates. Regardless of our guesses, you need to see a plastic surgeon who can do a thorough evaluation and treatment.
+1
Breast implants do not increase your risk for cancer.
Breast implants do not increase your risk for cancer -- but it is still very possible to get breast cancer. No, saline implants do not cause lumps. The discomfort you are describing may be due to capsular contracture or hardening of the scar tissue.
If you have an abnormal lump it MUST be evaluated by a physician. Even without insurance there are many options for low-cost or no-cost cancer screenings and treatment.
SEE A DOCTOR TO CHECK THE LUMP.
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+1
You need to have your doctor evaluate this lump!
Amy~
A leaking saline implant does not cause lumps. In fact, the saline is harmlessly absorbed by your body over time in the case of a gradual implant deflation. The firmness that you feel in your breast could be related to thickening of the scar (capsule) around the implant but the fact that you feel a lump is VERY concerning!
Any lumps felt in the breast (or elsewhere) should be evaluated by a medical professional. I suggest that you seek medical attention and...
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+1
Not a good idea to blame your implants for a breast lump
There are several issues here that need to be addressed. First of all, if you have noticed a new lump in your breast tissue that feels like it is part of your breast tissue, it is not a result of your implant. Any new mass in your breast must be evaluated to exclude breast cancer as a possibility. The second issue relates to a ruptured breast implant. Whether an implant is saline or silicone, if the device is defective, it should be removed. Although a deflated implant may be palpable...
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+1
Hard lump after saline implants
The situation you describe is actually quite concerning. The lump is not from any leakage of saline - saline is absorbed by the body. Do not confuse this with leakage of silicone and silicone granulomas. A hard lump in the breast is very concerning for breast cancer. I recommend that you visit with a breast surgeon for a workup as soon as possible.
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1
Saline implants and breast lump
It is possible that the implants have deflated and you have not noticed the flatness because of natural increase in the breast size.
Saline is absorbed by the body immediately and does not cause lumps.
The lump you are feeling could be the edge of the deflated implant.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE LUMP YOU ARE FEELING.
+1
Any hard breast lump means cancer unless proven otherwise
There are very few intact 28 year old Saline breast implants. If your implants leaked (very likely) by now they would be nearly flat and should NOT prove a bother to you other than the deflated appearance.
Most importantly, deflated saline breast implants do NOT cause breast lumps - hard, soft or in between.
ANY breast lump persisting for more than 6 months should be biopsied and cancer needs to be ruled out. Further delay with this lump may be fatal. I SERIOUSLY advise you to seek immediate...
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+1
Breast lump from leaking implants
Unlikely to be the implants, but could be. However, any breast lump should be evaulated by a physician.
I do not recommend the "wait and let's see" policy for this. It is hard to tell you that it is your implant without examining you, so go see a physician to do a proper exam, probably seeing a plastic surgeon would be your best bet.
Good luck.
+1
Breast lumps should be evaluated
A lump in the breast is cancer until proven otherwise. You must see a breast or plastic surgeon ASAP. They will do a thorough exam and probably recommend studies such as a mammogram ,ultrasound, or even an MRI. Hopefuly it is only implant or caspule but this must be evaluated.
+1
Take care of this!
Ms Martin:
Saline does not cause hard lumps in a breast. If your implant is leaking or has leaked you would know it by now. It would deflate and the saline would be absorbed into your body (safely). Your breast would certainly be smaller.You might feel folds of the implant shell if it has failed, but this should not be a hard mass.
Any hard mass should be evaluated with a mammogram. If you don't have money or insurance, there are clinics you can go to to help you with this. Get this taken...
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