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

asked 1 year ago by vanevane in Puerto Rico
Latest answer by Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD
Question viewed 1,493 times
Tags: saline implants, 400-449cc, leak

I had saline implants 2 months ago.During the first week i tighened the band much more than supposed to to the pt it bothered me,there was a decrease in shape and size of one breast although it has not changed so much during the last month.I had an MRI and the implants look more or less symetric but the smaller breast had 400cc and the bigger one 390cc , should the one with 400cc look bigger in the x ray? in any case it looks smaller.Is it possible the implant is slowly deflating?

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

Slow leak of saline breast impalnts is possible

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.

S. Sean Younai, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Leaks? 100% OF BREAST IMPLANTS, SALINE OR GEL, EVENTUALLY LEAK.

Implants can and do leak. Given time 100% deflate (lose saline and go flat). Saline is safe so no problem there. You could be losing saline slowly ( molecular leak). A valve or posterior seal separation-disfunction results in a 24 hour or less deflation to flat. In 27 tears I have had experience with ober 1700 breast imp;ant patients. I have seen leaks occur in the first few days after surgery amd I have seen one lady who at 37 years had no leak and the... more

George Commons, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

Yes, a slow leak is possible

A saline implant generally has 2 areas that are prone to leakage: the valve and the implant shell. If the valve integrity is in question, then putting pressure on the implant can cause the valve to leak some fluid and then close up when the pressure is diminished. If the actual implant shell develops a tiny hole, then it will probably just leak out rapidly.

Ezat Hashim, MD
Montreal Plastic Surgeon

Once it starts leaking, it doesn't stop.

Leaking of saline breast implants can deflate over a few hours or a few days, however once the leaking starts it won't stop. That one of the greatest advantages of saline implants is that there isn't usually a question about whether its leaking or not. You know because the breast the deflation is clearly visible and the saline just gets safely absorbed by the body. It is unlikely that two weeks after surgery that both sides have partially deflated. The change... more

Adam Hamawy, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon

Breast Augmentation, Breast Enlargement, Breast Implants

In my experience if your saline implants are leaking at all they will deflate completely in a short period of time. Most times the implants are not leaking, the difference in the size is due to your pre-existing breast size difference or the swelling that remains. Give it more time to completely heal. Then stop looking so closely, there will always be a slight difference in the two breasts.

Jay H. Ross, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

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

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... more

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drbandy.com

Leakage of saline implants

Saline breast implants will completely leak over several days to 2 weeks. If you are over one month, then youre implants are not leaking.

Arian Mowlavi, MD
Laguna Beach Plastic Surgeon

Saline breast implants don't deflate slowly

A saline breast implant may deflate incompletely, though once a leak develops the volume loss will be obvious and MRI studies are unnecessary. You may be looking at natural breast asymmetry that was not influenced by breast augmentation, but don't worry about a leak for when is does you will know. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Implant appearance is often deceptive following augmentation

The answer to your question is yes. Saline implants can leak slowly from implant failure or from a needle injury during surgery. The actual question is.... is the implant leaking or is the asymmetry of your breast exacerbated by the placement of implants. This is much more difficult to discern. What I can see is that you had preop asymmetry which is more visible post op as the height of the breast are quite different. It is very difficult to determine what the... more

Kimberley O'Sullivan, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

10cc difference is not noticeable

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.

Dev Wali, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Saline Breast Implant Leaking

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. more

Stanley Okoro, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

Saline implants and leaking

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.

David A. Bottger, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

www.drbottger.com

Implant leak

Usually a saline implant if it springs a leak will deflate rather quickly within a day or so. If you had an MRI, it may not be possible to detect such as mall difference(10cc's) between the two implants.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Slow leak with saline implants is rare

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.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Leaking Saline Implants

Occasionally saline implants do leak slowly or partially; however, this is the exception and it is certainly more common for a fairly rapid total deflation to occur. In your case, I would not be alarmed. Ten cc's is equivalent to 2 teaspoons. This would be very difficult to see on an MRI with implants containing around 400cc.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Implants vs Soft Tissue- part 2

It is not likely your implant has deflated. This is not an implant issue but a sift tissue issue.... Preop your right breast is at least 50-60cc larger. Different size implants cannot solve parenchymal volume and skin surface area differences. The paradox is the larger implant is placed in the smaller recipient site- looking at it this way makes it easier to understand how implants cannot overcome soft tissue problems. Dr D bostonbreastcenter

Daniel Del Vecchio, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.bostonbreastcenter.com

Implant leakage and MRI's

Certainly small leaks can occur in implants without significant volume differences in the early days following the procedure. In my experience the slow leaks are usually when a small hole appears on the back of the implant, and the pressure of the muscle and breast will often press the implant against the chest , minimizing the fluid loss. Waiting a longer amount of time will often reveal the leak as more fluid finally has escaped from the implant. MRI's may... more

Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Slow saline implant leak

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... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Leak in a saline implant

There can be a slow leak in a saline implant but in all cases it will eventually leak and go flat. Small changes from the initial result are common due to asymmetric swelling, but the chances of a small leak causing the issue in your case is not likely.

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation

Implants can leak. Usually once a saline implant will begin to leak there will be a noticeable difference in size over a short period of time. 10cc difference in size of the imp,ants will not be easy to seen an mri

David L. Abramson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.drabramson.com

Breast augmentation -getting it right the first time

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... more