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Can Your Body "Swallow" a Breast Implant During Exercise?

asked 6 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD
Question viewed 294 times
Tags: complication, exercise, flexibility, yoga

This story from FOX news is freaking me out about implants.

A woman was doing Pilates when one of her implants was "swallowed" into her ribcage. She was a cancer survivor who'd had a double mastectomy, and it says her ribs were weaker from an operation.

I want breast implants, but also want to be flexible and active. How likely would this be to happen again?

11 answers to Can Your Body "Swallow" a Breast Implant During Exercise?

Breast Implant "Swallowed" By Chest Cavity-How Likely?

The very fact that this supposed incident made the news means that it is a very rare and unusual event. In fact, it is so rare that most of the responders have never heard of another case. This appears to be a complication of her cancer or her cancer treatment and not really the implant.

Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants and Strenuous Exercise.

Of all the potential complications that can occur from breast augmentation, this is one you should not be concerned with. This rare, and never before reported complication, did not occur in a patient with normal chest anatomy like you. You should have no concerns about having breast implants and being able to do any form of exercise, no matter how strenuous it is.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

"Swallowed" breast implant risk - almost non-existent

This case of an implant being "swallowed" into a woman's chest was published in a sensational manner to generate publicity. It's occurrence was as a result of a confluence of very rare factors - a perfect storm - that it was published as a case report. This included radiation damaged ribs from treatment for breast cancer, a limited sized implant, heart surgery performed between ribs in the same area in which the normal structures between the ribs were disrupted and not... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Can a breast implant be "swallowed" during exercise

The story you are referring to was actually taken from a clinical case report in the December 15th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. While true, the occurrence was unusual enough to be published as a case report. In this particular patient, it was most likely related to previous damage to the tissues between her ribs, related to previous open heart surgery (her heart was operated on through an incision between her ribs). For those interested, I am including a link... more

Craig S. Rock, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Implants can't be sucked into the chest

This story is completely bogus. The only way this could even remotely happen is if the implant were saline and it popped and was reabsorbed rapidly. Otherwise she would have to have had such diseased ribs (?radiation therapy) that they would cave in but under those circumstances I doubt she could do strenuous exercise.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Great headline but has no relevance to someone considering elective breast augmentation.

The chest can not "swallow" anything. If the ribcage is diseased and damaged (radiation treatments and cancer surgery) and if the implant was surrounded by scar encapulation and if it had been in place for a long while the underlying bone can slowly be resorbed making them weak enough to collapse inward. That is a lot of "ifs" that do not apply to a healthy woman considering elective breast augmentation. Once again the headlines did their job of getting your... more

Mathew C. Mosher, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.drmosher.com

Swallowing breast implants

I don't know what you heard on Fox News, however we have never heard of the chest 'swallowing' a breast implant, augmentation, or reconstruction. Sure got your attention. Score one for the tabloids. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Swallowing breast implants

I did not hear about this stroy, but I would imagine it is highly unusual for an implant to be "swallowed". Was the patient getting radiation or erosion of her ribs from cancer that predisposed a weakeness?

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implant Moving to Chest Cavity

This is truly a "freak" occurrence that is more likely related to her cancer. The rib cage can deform when tissue expanders are used in breast reconstruction. This is very unlikely to happen in any case.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Can Your Body "Swallow" a Breast Implant During Exercise?

This news story conveys 2 messages; One, the almost anything, however unlikely, can happen and two, that it makes no sense whatsoever. In all my professional career in Plastic Surgery I have never seen, heard or read of such a complication involving breast implants. It just does not happen and you are more likely to be hit by lightning than have this happen to you. As a Pilates drop out (just could not hack it), all of us know the amount of straining involved laying on your back,... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Not Likely!

Thank you for the question. I have never seen, read, on heard about the complication you described. There are undoubtedly far more common complications ( after breast augmentation) you should consider, such as leakage, encapsulation, implant malposition, rippling/probability, loss of sensation, interference with mammography etc. These complications should be considered and weighed against the “pros” of the... more