Trauma to Chest Cause Implant Rupture?

asked 2 years ago by Corrina in Peoria,AZ.
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 396 times
Tags: silicone implant, rupture

I have 20year old silicone breast implants.my left one is incapsulated.My right one is soft and flatter.I had a bycicle accident about a month ago and smacked both sides of my chest on the cement.Ever since then i have had alot of pain in my chest on both sides. It's a piercing pain through my chest into my back,and my left upper to mid abdomen area.This pain is persistant and evrry day now .It is especially worse at night.I know my implants are leaking.But my insurance won't pay for me to have them removed.Please help!

5 answers to Trauma to Chest Cause Implant Rupture?

Ruptured Silicone Gel Implants?

Thank you for the question. I think you will be best off by in person evaluation by a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. Given that the implants have been in place for 20 years and you're dealing with encapsulation, it will likely be in your best interests to have the implants removed and replaced. Capsulectomy may also be necessary. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Chest trauma

If you sustain significant chest trauma after falling, you need to not just get an evaluation of your implants but also make sure that you did not break a rib, etc...

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants and trauma to chest

It takes a significant amount of force to rupture an implant. However, depending upon the age of the implants, the thickness of the implant shell, and most importantly, the extent of the trauma to the chest, the bicycle accident could have caused your implant to rupture. The best thing to do at this point is to definitely get it checked out, especially since you are in pain. Get an MRI done. This will let you know if there is a leak or not. If there isn't, you accident may have... more

Sam Speron, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Remove your ruptured 20 year old silicone breast implants.

I don't understand your question: Are you asking if your implant is ruptured or asking for insurance to cover. IF the former is your question: yes, it is possible that trauma caused your implant to rupture but more likely that general wear and tear is responsible. IF the latter is your question: yes, it is unlikely that insurance will cover the implant removal and they certainly will not cover implant replacement. In any event, you should have the 20 year old silicone implants removed. The... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Chest Trauma and Breast Implants

Can chest trauma rupture breast implants? That would depend on the age of the implants, thickness of the implant shell and, most importantly, the extent of the chest trauma. It takes a considerable amount of sudden compression to stress an implant to the point of breaking. Being enthusiastically bear hugged will not rupture new implants but MAY rupture very old, thin walled implants. On the other hand, being in a head on car collision and having the steering column hit the chest and break... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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