What Happens to Silicone Leaked into Breast Tissue?

I've had silicone breast implants for over 30 years with no problems. Now despite even an MRI, doctors are undecided if the implant is ruptured or not. How urgent is it to get free silicone out of the breast and what does happen to free silicone? What is the proceedure to remove the silicone?

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leak silicone implant

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon5097 in New England

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Thirty year old breast implants and question of rupture

IF the MRI cannot detect an implant rupture the silicone extravasation must be realtively negligible. Nonetheless,. the recommended management would likley be implant removal with capsulectomy and consideration for replacement if desired.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Silicone rupture

If a patient has a ruptured silicone implant I prefer to remove it as convenient as it is for the patient. Usually it is self contained within the capsule and it is fairly easy to remove.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Removal of silicone

An MRI done with breast coils should pick up 90% of leaking or ruptured silicone implants. If I suspect a ruptured silicone implant I dissect around the capsule before opening it and potentially exposing raw silicone. This helps keep spillage of silicone to a minimum. When silicone gets out into the breast tissue, your body walls it off with scar tissue called granulomas. The only way to get rid of this is to cut out the granuloma including the breast tissue involved.... more

Randy Proffitt, MD

3 reviews

Mobile Plastic Surgeon

Leak of silicone filled breast implants. Capsulectomy for silicone breast implants leak.

Discrete leaks of filler of the implant can be very difficult to diagnose. It is important that you obtain a opinion from a plastic surgeon who is familiar with the problem. Certain radiology departments are more familiar with the interpretation of breast MRI's for implants leaks.The best way to diagnose the problem is the combination of clinical examination and if the suspicion is high ultrasound followed by MRI is the way to make the diagnosis. Micro leaks usually are silent and... more