I fell hitting both breast about 3/4 mo. Ago went to Dr. About 1 mo. Ago with what felt like swelling/burning in underarms. Very worried about rupture. Had mammogram last year. No cancer but there was a small leak in left breast. Radiologist said all was ok.
March 4, 2018
Answer: Time to change It is impossible to know if your implants are broken without a good physical exam and an MRI. However, if your implants are 38 years old it is probably time for a replacement or removal. Almost all of the implants I see that are that old are long since ruptured and have hard capsular contractures. Seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that specializes in breast surgery for a consultation.
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March 4, 2018
Answer: Time to change It is impossible to know if your implants are broken without a good physical exam and an MRI. However, if your implants are 38 years old it is probably time for a replacement or removal. Almost all of the implants I see that are that old are long since ruptured and have hard capsular contractures. Seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that specializes in breast surgery for a consultation.
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March 3, 2018
Answer: Very old implants, ruptured Go see a board certified plastic surgeon. We now follow-up silicone implants as per FDA guidelines with periodic MRIs. However, with very old silicone implants (and evidence of leaking on a mammogram), I advise my patients to get them removed and replaced (or not replaced, as desired). It is common to see leaking of those old implants even when it wasn't expected ("normal" mammogram). Implants as old as yours are commonly ruptured (leaking) even without having had any significant trauma. The silicone in those old implants is a mix of polymer size, unlike the ones nowadays that have more uniform longer chain silicone polymers. That old gel is a sticky goo unlike the cohesive, "jello" or "gummy bear" consistency now. If the silicone from your leaking implant gets outside the capsule ("extracapsular"), it can create lumps (granulomas), migrate to your armpit lymph nodes, and is often impossible to completely remove. Implants are NOT forever. There will come a time when you need to have them changed out. That time will be long before 38 years.
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March 3, 2018
Answer: Very old implants, ruptured Go see a board certified plastic surgeon. We now follow-up silicone implants as per FDA guidelines with periodic MRIs. However, with very old silicone implants (and evidence of leaking on a mammogram), I advise my patients to get them removed and replaced (or not replaced, as desired). It is common to see leaking of those old implants even when it wasn't expected ("normal" mammogram). Implants as old as yours are commonly ruptured (leaking) even without having had any significant trauma. The silicone in those old implants is a mix of polymer size, unlike the ones nowadays that have more uniform longer chain silicone polymers. That old gel is a sticky goo unlike the cohesive, "jello" or "gummy bear" consistency now. If the silicone from your leaking implant gets outside the capsule ("extracapsular"), it can create lumps (granulomas), migrate to your armpit lymph nodes, and is often impossible to completely remove. Implants are NOT forever. There will come a time when you need to have them changed out. That time will be long before 38 years.
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