Breast implants fold flaws when sleeping on side - will implants rupture?

Question

Hi, I sometimes sleep on my side with implants, but I noticed that there is a fold formed on the implant when I sleep on my side. Will this fold lead to implants rupture? Thank you.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear peony12345,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. Implants should not rupture from sleeping on your side. If there is a fold forming that does not soften upon waking up and gone by mid day then perhaps you should see your plastic surgeon. Yes recurrent constant folds in the implants over the course of 20 years can potentially create a weak spot in the implant where it is more susceptible to rupture. Again this is rare.

Peter D. Geldner, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions. Nearly all breast implants have some irregularities. since they are soft, gravity will shift them some. Within a confined space, implants can demonstrate folds. Sometimes you can feel them or even see them. Highly cohesive gel implants have fewer folds. Most of the time these folds are of no consequence. However, fold flaws (where the shell of the implant flexes repeatedly and breaks) can be the source of implant breakage or (if saline) deflation. If this worries you, talk to your plastic surgeon. They could reduce your concern, or potentially replace them with more cohesive implants.

Timothy M. Bradley, MD · Answer

Sleeping on your side is not going to hurt your implants, but there may be a relationship between breast implant rupture and implant folds. Theoretically, implant manufactures have postulated that the folds which inevitably occur to breast implants over time MAY lead to implant wall material fatigue, much like what happens if you repeatedly fold a soda can back and forth in itself. The aluminum will eventually fatigue along the fold and this will lead to a tear. This is what is thought to occur to a breast implant wall. It is thought that silicone gel lubricates the wall some what better than saline, thereby lasting longer than saline implants. This is all theory of course, but it does sound reasonable. I have always recommended to my breast surgery patients that they wear some type if light support garment to bed as a matter of routine following surgery. Something as simple as a shelf bra in a camisole will do. Try it yourself and see how much less the breasts are affected by gravity with the garment vs without This will support the breast when they lay on their sides to sleep and will help delay soft tissue stretch . Soft tissue will happen over time, but a light support garment will help in this regard. Regarding a breast implant fold, I doubt there is anything that can be done to eliminate the wear and tear every breast implant endures during its lifetime. Like everything else, a breast implant will wear out and need to replaced at some point. I would not give it much room in the attic as they say.

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

In my experience overfilling saline implants can reduce deflation rate to less than 2% compared to silicone rupture rate of 8 to 10%. Read the link below to read my published data. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Even though your implant folds, there is a low risk of rupture from just sleeping on your side. With smooth implants, the risk is much lower than with textured implants since the smooth is not attached to your tissue and can move around.  Smooth implants fold less noticeably than textured.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Implants should not rupture from sleeping on your side, nor any position for that matter, once you are healed from surgery.  I encourage you to visit with your surgeon to discuss your concerns and rule out any issues.

Breast implants fold flaws when sleeping on side - will implants rupture?

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