Is It Possible for a Saline Breast Implant to Be Leaking Slowly?

it is possible to have a slow leak of saline implant over several weeks. There are signs that can show this with MRI, but it is best to wait until visually there is a significant difference.

Saline implants generally deflate quickly when ruptured, however a slow leak may also exist. I suggest waiting for a couple of weeks to see if your affected breast has further decreased in size, then returning to your surgeon for an examination. Best of luck.

Yes, implants can leak slowly.  I have seen instances where it has taken several months to discern a certain leak in a saline implant.  Because your surgery was so recent, it is too soon to be sure.  However, a leak this soon after surgery is unlikely and it is more likely that you are seeing your pre-op breast asymmetry magnified.  10cc difference in implant fill is not visibly noticible. Your breast asymmetry is not only in volume, but inra-mammary fold height too. This may look more obvious after surgery, as in your case.

You probably squeezed the swelling more out of one side than the other. Your posted photos have creases in them so it is hard to really assess the before and after. From this angle it looks like you have a good result. You had some asymmetry before surgery that has been partially resolved and after the swelling goes away may resolve even more. I think you are being over critical of the result. I am not sure why you got the MRI. I think you wasted your time and money on that as I doubt health insurance would pay for MRI of saline implant augmented breasts.

Saline implants deflate like flat tires or water balloons if they lose their integrity.  I have had patients who have noticed it immediately after an accident and up to 6 weeks later.  It is unusual but possible to have a slow leak if there is a faulty implant valve. 

As you may know, breast asymmetry is very common. It is very unlikely that your implants are leaking this early after surgery. I suspect that you are noticing some of your pre-existing breast asymmetry as the swelling resolves. Additionally, the shape and size of your breast after implant may also be affected by your chest wall (ribs) and muscle asymmetry. If you are concerned about this situation, your board certified Plastic Surgeon would be the best person to help.

I hope this helps.

A size difference of 10 cc would not be detectable on MRI and would also be difficult to appreciate on observation. Small differences in implant location could produce an asymmetric appearance as could the inherent asymmetry of your preoperative breasts. Leaks are usually due to valve malfunction resulting in progressive intermittent leakage of saline which will eventually manifest as an obviously smaller and much softer breast.

Typically if a saline implant has a leak it completely deflates within a day or two. An early post op leak would be even harder to imagine. It is possible that your breasts were not symmetrical and that this became apparent during healing, or the implants settled differently. Your plastic surgeon is in the best position to advise.

At 2 months, your breasts may just be settling from your surgery, and this may be causing a difference in shape and size. I highly doubt that it would be leaking, because saline implants usually do so quite quickly. Although if the valve isn't closed properly slow deflation may be possible. Fortunately, you’ll be able to determine whether it is deflating in a week or two, even with slow deflation.

It is absolutely possible for the implant to leak slowly and not completely flatten. You could have had a leaky valve or a small tear in the implant membrane. An MRI would induce whether there was a tear but, with saline, it will ultimately deflate completely and there is no risk of waiting. A leak can be caused by a nick to the implant during the procedure or it could have been defective from the beginning. If and when it is removed, your plastic surgeon should send it back to the manufacturer for evaluation and testing. If it is a leak the manufacturer will replace it and provide an allowance toward the replacement surgery.