How common is mold developed in and around a saline implant?

Question

Does any doctor know what the percentage is of women experiencing mold in saline implants? Would the "gummy bear" be "safer" to get since they don't develop mold? I understand Dr. Susan Kolb would rather have women get saline implants without the valve, because there is a lower risk of mold development. I would like to know since the new "Ideal Implants" have two valves does this mean there's a higher chance of mold developing?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I have not seen an implant or implant pocket culture fungus, but it is possible.  Fungal infections tend to be more common in immunocompromised patients, like those with diabetes or HIV.  In general, infections are very rare.  I have not gone back in to remove implants after about 1000 or so breast augmentations.  So to go back in for a fungal infection in an immunocompetent individual would be even more rare. Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD · Answer

The only way that anyone should be able to get anything inside their saline implant would be if the saline placed into it was not sterile.  This does not happen on its own.  If the implant is filed with sterile saline ( which it always should be), then this should never be a concern.  However, there are plenty of people out there that cut corners when it comes to picking a "surgeon", and often times those are the cases where things can go awry.  I perform over two-hundred breast augmentations a year and have never found anything like mold or bacteria on an old implant.  I hope this helps.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  I have never seen mold development in or around an implant, saline or silicone.  Though anything is theoretically possible the chances are so small that it should be very low on your list of concerns with an augmentation.  Hope this helps.

Melinda Haws, MD, FACS · Answer

I have been in practice for 18 years. I have put in and removed hundreds of saline implants as well as tissue expanders. I have never seen mold. So it is rare (never in my experience). And the newer silicone implants are so far superior to saline for so many reasons, I personally now rarely use a saline implant for reasons other than concern with contamination within the implant. Please see board certified plastic surgeons.  Get more than one opinion and actually touch and feel the new implants.  I think you will be sold.

Talmage J. Raine, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I have performed many breast augmentations (probably a thousand or more). I have never seen mold. I have seen and read articles about this very rare event. Anything is theoretically possible. Mold contamination of a saline implant is way on the improbable end of a scale of possible. I never worry about that, like I do worry about infections and bleeding in all my surgical procedures. There are many other issues of saline vs silicone implants. I would concentrate on the othe rissues in your implant decision.All the best,Talmage Raine MD

How common is mold developed in and around a saline implant?

Answers (5)