What is the percentege of someone's body rejecting a silicone breast implant?

Question

I've read that sometimes the body will try to push out the implant? How true is this?

Christian Subbio, MD · Answer

A patient's body will never "reject" an implant and try to push it out.  Infection rates are extremely low, in the neighborhood of 1%.  And capsular contracture, a separate issue altogether, should be low as well, though the reports in the literature very widely on this.  Discuss this in greater detail with your plastic surgeon.Best of luck!
Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

David Stoker, MD · Answer

Silicone breast implants are not rejected by the human body.  A small percentage of patients may have a complication such as a capsular contracture or infection, but that is a different condition.

Steve Merten, FRACS - Account Suspended · Answer

0%. Rejection is an immunological repsonse and does not happen with silicone, which surfaces most breast implants. There are a range of other potential complication, however. Dr Steve Merten, Sydney, Australia

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Once placed into a woman's chest any implant, saline or silicone, becomes wrapped in scar tissue placed there by her own body.  This prevents the patient's immune system from "rejecting" the implant.  There can be issues where the implant does not heal appropriately, such as an infection, but thankfully this is quite rare.  Hope this helps.

Don Fontana, MD · Answer

Implant silicone implant  rejection is a misnomer in a scientific sense. I think you are referring to the incidence of capsular contracture as  " silicone rejection". Capsular  contracture is uncommon whether using silicone gel or saline implants. It is  common if there is bleeding around the implant during surgery. The body responds to the presence and absorption of  the blood by producing scar tissue around the implant  = capsular contracture.

Bryan Correa, MD · Answer

No, this is not true. The body does not reject silicone breast implants. I hope this is helpful. Good luck.

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Samantha.A,"Rejection" is sort of a generalized term that is used when we, as physicians, speak to the non medical community.  When referring to breast implants, it is usually the consequence of an implant infection, or incision infection that results in the implant becoming exposed and needing to be removed.  Implant infection rates are less than 1%.  Good luck!

Adam Hamawy, MD · Answer

Silicone is an immunolgically inert element which basically means that is can not get rejected by the body.  That is why is is used as the material for many types of implant devises.  However, infection is a rare possibility with any object implanted in the body including breast implants.   If that happens and the implant itself gets contaminated and infected for some reason, the body will react to the infection and different problems may occur that may eventually result in the need to remove and exchange the implant.

Josh Waltzman, MD, MBA · Answer

The body does not really reject an implant.  Once the implant is placed inside the breast, the body forms a capsule around the implant which is a normal process.  This in a way keeps the implant separated from the breast tissue.  If the implant where to become infected for some reason then this might result in the implant needing to come out.  In my experience I have never seen the body "reject" an otherwise normal implant.  Best of luck!

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Implants are inert and re not "rejected" by the body. If you are implying extrusion due to infection, I will say this is rare and probably less than 1-2%.

What is the percentege of someone's body rejecting a silicone breast implant?

Answers (13)

More Breast Augmentation Questions

Why do my boob's look so pointy and misshaped 48 hours post? (photos)

Is it normal to have a bubbly excess water or air pocket feeling under there breast after there BA op?

Sagging after less than 3 years on a high profile implant?

Why has my breast become more sensitive and uncomfortable after the first-week post-op? Do I need to worry?

Does the acrylic on my nails have to be removed before breast augmentation?

I'm getting my surgery in 5 days. Can I drink this weekend?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS