How urgent is it to get a collapsed saline implant removed?

It is not a medical emergency to have the deflated implant shell removed. There is no specific recommended time to explant, but rather have the shell removed as soon as it is conveniently possible. The risks of having the shell present are minimal.

Removal of breast implants, intact or ruptured, may have positive implications if patients are symptomatic. A constellation of symptoms associated with breast implant illness, and autoimmune disease are considered when treating patients who have breast implants and are concerned about foreign body reaction. In our office, we begin this journey with a consideration of symptoms and exclusion of obvious autoimmune problems. In many of our patients, en bloc removal of breast implants with capsulectomy is important and beneficial. Further clinical evidence about breast implant illness is evolving and will continue to guide treatment. I would suggest removal if there is a possibility of foreign body reaction.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

The deflated implant should eventually be removed, but there is no urgency.  The risks of leaving it are small but I would do the removal within a year.

Generally the risk of a deflated saline implant would be negligible. That said, the pocket will shrink making the replacement slightly more involved if you wait.  Removal can be done under local anaesthetic and will only take a few minutes.  If they see that a capsulectomy is required that would have to be done another time under general.  It may not be needed.Dr Rodger ShorttOakville Plastic SurgeonDirector of Cosmetic Surgery Training &Assistant Clinical Professor,McMaster University

Thank you for your question.A saline implant that is deflated is not an emergency.  The body forms a capsule around the implants after they are in place, so it is contained in that pocket.  There are patients that go years with a ruptured implant and do not know.  If it were a silicone implant, it would need to come out sooner.  The only concern is that you may start experiencing discomfort on the side of the deflated implant.