Is 4 months too long to wait for surgery after a silicone implant rupture?

Question

I recently found out through an MRI that one of my silicone implants has ruptured. My breasts look symmetrical when my arms are by my sides, but theres a difference in shape when I lift them overhead. I’m slightly tender around my breast and armpit. My concern is that I can’t have surgery for 4 months! I have trips planned and paid for over the summer that require me to be in rivers and lakes and my surgeon is worried about infection. Am I taking a risk by putting the surgery off by 4 months?

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  Depending on the type of rupture, intracapsular/extracapsular, and the style of silicone implant you have you may wish to have this treated sooner than later.  If the silicone remains within your implant pocket than waiting would be fine but if a thinner silicone is present that has run out of the implant pocket than I would advocate exchanging them prior to your travels.  Hope this helps.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

hello irherrickI would advice you visit or contact a board certified plastic surgeon about this concern. #rupture #implants

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

There is a very small chance that the MRI is wrong in indicating that one of the silicone implants has ruptured.  The implant should be removed as soon as possible as well as remaining silicone material that has extruded.  Silicone is relatively inert, and I would not anticipate a change in antibodies after removal.  Although the problem is not an emergency, it should be addressed within the next several months as the silicone may continue to spread and move outside the capsule.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Oliver Chang, MD · Answer

Hi,
Depending on what generation your implants are slightly dictates the urgency of removal, in my opinion. I think pre 2008 implants (silicone ones) are more liquid / less cohesive - therefore more likely to come out of the implant shell covering. This leads to more difficulty for the surgeon during explant or removal and more silicone leakage means possiblity of some body absorption of the silicone. 
But I think 4 months waiting should be ok as your body will and has already “walled off” (formed a layer of scar tissue around the implant) the implant because it’s a foreign body. So the wall will protect you from having too much or any silicone absorption.
Hope this helps.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

I recommend discussing the situation with your surgeon.  If the silicone has escaped from the capsule then there is a greater chance that even more free silicone will need to be extracted during surgery.  This will make the surgery longer and more involved.  If the silicone is still within the capsule then the risk is lower.  Your surgeon can best advise you based on the findings from your MRI and examination.

Is 4 months too long to wait for surgery after a silicone implant rupture?

Answers (5)

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