Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently?

Question

Is there any reason to remove deflated saline implants? Are there any health risks of having the deflated implants left in the body? What type of possible issues might arise from not removing them?

Robert Cohen, MD · Answer

I would not recommend leaving deflated implant shells in because, over time, the shell can fold and a "knuckling" of the shell can irritate your tissues.  Also, having a foreign body inside you that is not serving any purpose could be an issue if you ever get a breast infection (such as mastitis during a pregnancy).  If you no longer want to have implants, it would be a relatively simple and low-risk procedure to have the implant shells removed.  This could potentially be done under sedation or local anesthesia, making the recovery even easier.

Andrew P. Trussler, MD · Answer

Deflated saline breast implants really pose no health risk leaving the shell in place. Saline implant(s) can be easily percutaneously deflated in the office. Issues and risks that could arise, include introduction of infection into the breast pocket, difficulty or discomfort with mammograms, change in the shape and volume of the breast and worsening of scarring and palpability around the implant shell. Eventually, it would be optimal to remove the implant shell but this could be performed at any point.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry, the risk of leaving a deflated breast implant indefinitely is that a "fold" in the shell can make a sharp edge that can poke at the skin and I have seen on one occasion that a fold caused the skin to thin so much over it that it caused a threatened extrusion, meaning the the implant almost poked through the skin and this could of led to an infection.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  As long as the implants are not causing you any issues there is no medical reason to have them removed.  That said, puncturing implants in the office does pose a possible risk, albeit small, of an infection taking place which would then necessitate removal.  Hope this helps.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

While I suppose a deflated saline implant can be left in the pocket, the implant deflated edge may start poking you.

Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently?

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Answer: Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently

Answer: Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently

Answer: Deflated saline implants

Answer: Deflated saline implants

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

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Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently?

Answers (9)

Answer: Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently

Answer: Can my saline implants be deflated and left in permanently

Answer: Deflated saline implants

Answer: Deflated saline implants

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.