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How Long Does a Popped Implant Take to Deflate?

asked 1 year ago by SuzieQKW in Key West, FL
Latest answer by Robert N. Young, MD
Question viewed 1,192 times
Tags: deflation, popping

One of my saline implants has deflated and It will be a few months before I can afford a revision and am very uncomfortable with the difference in size. Especially since I live in the Florida Keys and spend a lot of time in a swimsuit which is impossible to wear now. If I have the intact implant popped, how long will it take to deflate?

17 answers to How Long Does a Popped Implant Take to Deflate?

+2

Deflation rate

A spontaneous deflation can happen rapidly (overnight) or slowly but one that is caused by intentionally popping the implant with a 18g needle should only take a day or 2.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Deflating Saline Implant

If you successfully have the implant popped it will usually empty within the week with a noticeable difference right after.
Robert N. Young, MD

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.dryoungforever.com

+1

Deflation of leaking saline implant

The rate of delaflation depends on the size of the hole and the pressure on the breast and if the hole intermittently becomes sealed up against the capsule or by a little piece of fat.  See your plastic surgeon before you consider poking your intact side!! He/She can check out if your implants are under warrenty.  Also, if you want your intact side completely defated to match your other side, have your surgeon do the deflating!  Don't try it at home!
Lisa L. Sowder, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implant deflation

Having the intact implant deflated will remove the fluid immediately (because it is aspirated into a syringe). However, before you do that, it is worth finding out whether the ruptured implant is under warranty. Depending on the manufacturer and when the implant was placed, you may be under a warranty for a replacement implant. In some cases, if the rupture occurs within 10 years, the implant manufacturer will even pay for a large part of the anesthesia/operating room/surgeon's fee. I... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

+1

Saline breast implant deflation

Deflation occurs in about 5% of patients with breast saline implants and can occur anytime after implantation. I recommend that it be changed for if you wait, then the cavity becomes contracted and will require more surgery to open it. The manufacturer does pay for part of the costs if happens within a 10year period and does give the patient a new implant for free for the patient's life. Watch my videos.
Edward J. Domanskis, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Intentionally deflating your intact implant will have quite immediate results.

Intentionally deflating your intact implant by whatever technique will be effective relatively rapidly regardless of the technique. You should be able to achieve the desired result within a few days if not sooner. However, you specifically refer to popping the implant that suggests breaking the implant by applying manual pressure similar to a procedure used to break up scar tissue surrounding implants. If this is what you have in mind you would be better served by having the implant... more
David A. Ross, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Deflated breast implant

If the other implant is popped, as you said, it will probably deflate the same day. You might void the implant warranty so check with your surgeon first. Most US implants have a 10 year warranty and earlier deflation is covered which includes implant cost, OR, and anesthesia fees. Good luck.
Richard Chaffoo, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Deflating Saline Breast Implant

If the leak is sizable then the deflation is rather immediate.  If you have a smaller or slower leak then that depends on many factors to determine when the implant will eventually go flat.   This does cause any problems other a cosmetic problem from the obvious difference in breast size. Dr. ES
Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implant deflation may be an expense covered by your implant manufacturer.

The other answers here are all good, but fail to mention that, depending on how long you have had your saline implants, replacement costs might be covered by your implant manufacturer, whether or not you purchased an extended warranty. Check with your surgeon, this might be something that you can have dealt with much sooner than you anticipated. If you deflate your implant with a needle, the manufacturer may refuse to provide a no-charge replacement implant (they check the deflation site... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

+1

Saline implant, implant leak, deflated implant

A deflated saline implant if confirmed clinically indicates replacement at the earliest. Early intervention will allow replacement of implant in the same pocket with minimal surgical intervention. If left long the cavity may contract and will need capsulotomy to expand the cavity. However, it does not matter if the implants are required to place in a new pocket. sanjay parashar
Sanjay Parashar, MD

Dubai Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implant deflation

IF you purposely punture an intact saline imlant it will spontaneously deflate quite rapidly, usually overnight. I would not recommend waiting on replacing a saline implant because after an implant has deflated, the normal capsule that surrounds all implants will begin to contract within weeks and will make revision more difficult  and achieving symmetry with your next surgery more difficult
Jack Peterson, MD

Topeka Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implant deflation

If you purposefully deflate an implant it can be aspirated in one sitting and you should see an immediate change.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Deflating a breast implant.

All it takes to deflate an implant is a needle stick which is not unlike drawing your blood. The saline can aspirated (sucked out) or it can leak into the body where it will be rapidly absorbed.  Unless you need a capsulectomy, it should absorb rather quick. 
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Leaking Saline Implant Should Deflate Rapidly

I would expect that your intact implant would totally deflate in 1-3 days depending upon the size of the "pop".  The saline is fairly rapidly resorbed by your body following a tear in the implant envelope.  Your other option would be simply for your surgeon to aspirate the saline with a fairly large-bore needle.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Popped implant takes less than 24 hours to deflate

I would advise that you have your intact implant intentionally deflated (assuming its saline as well)- it will take about 24 hours for the implant to deflate. You'll probably notice some difference in the appearance of your breasts since the implants do not deflate completely no matte how long they have been ruptured. A saline implant replacement procedure is straightforward, assuming you do not have any capsular contracture or implant malposition issues.
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ruptured saline implant

A ruptured saline implant should take a short period of time to deflate - within 24 hours.
Samer W. Cabbabe, MD

Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+1

How Long Does a Popped Implant Take to Deflate?

Regarding: "How Long Does a Popped Implant Take to Deflate? One of my saline implants has deflated and It will be a few months before I can afford a revision and am very uncomfortable with the difference in size. Especially since I live in the Florida Keys and spend a lot of time in a swimsuit which is impossible to wear now. If I have the intact implant popped, how long will it take to deflate?" A needle deflated implant will deflate rapidly. In as long as 4-5 days and often... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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