Removing Silicone Gel from Breast Tissue?

Medical Grade Silicone in the breast tissue is often left in place unless it is symptomatic by forming an inflammatory, symptomatic or palpable nodule or appears suspicious on a mammogram or MRI. Silicone nodules are removed surgically typically when they are symptomatic, are inflammatory, or causing problems such as recurrent infection but not just because they are seen on a MRI scan or mammogram. First of all the likelihood of this happening would be more likely prior to 2006 especially after trauma as the capsule tends to keep the silicone within this membrane. After 2006 silicone implants were all more cohesive (more gel like).  It is often impossible to remove all traces of silicone because it is widely distributed and would potential cause harm to important structures as well as deformity and other problems. Weighing pros vs cons, risks and benefits are often difficult in this situation.  I recommend that you have a lengthy conversation with a board certified plastic surgeon and if necessary seek a secondary consultation.

 

If a silicone implant has ruptured, it is best to remove all the silicone gel.  It usually just stays within the pocket and needs to be removed.

If silicone gel is left in the breast cavity, the shape will be distorted. Silicone is not absorbedly the breast tissue. It can cause a foreign body reaction and produce a false positive on mammography. Therefore, the breast cavity should be cleaned out completely.