Can Ruptured Silicone Implants Cause a Hard Lump Attached to Rib at 9:00? (photo)

Question

My implants are 30 y/o & rock hard. Six weeks ago I found a hard lump attached to my rib. It's not in the breast tissue but on the right side at 9:00. Ultrasound findings: Snowstorm appearance with severe posterior echogenic shadowing & contour abnormality of the breast implant. No mass is identified. No evidence of malignancy. Highly suggestive of silcone rupture. Can this cause a hard lump attached to a rib outside the implant?

M. Scott Haydon, MD · Answer

Thanks for your pic an ? Yes this is very likely a result of implant rupture. Your body will often times "wall off " the silicone extravasation. This results in firm nodules. We typically resect these during the capsulectomy and implant exchange. Once the old implants are removed this should stop this formation in the future. Best os Luck!

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

Yes, this hard mass may be a silicone grauloma.  It should light up on a mammogram making the diagnosis easy.

Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

Most likely you have what is called a "silicone granuloma" which just means some scar tissue that is surrounding some silicone gel which has gotten out of your capsule and into the tissue.  I have encountered this numerous times, and the solution is simply to remove the affected tissue at the time of implant removal/capsulectomy.  While it won't make you sick or anything like that, it can be uncomfortable, and if one has already formed, others could follow unless the implants are removed.  Don't rush off for emergency implant removal surgery tomorrow, but don't wait until next year either!  Good luck.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

What you describe is seen with old ruptued gel implants. Some of the gel may have escaped the original capsule, and now the body has walled it off again. When you have your old implants and capsules removed, your surgeon will remove this as well. I recommend you seeing a board certified plastic surgeon for the removal of your implants. You may also choose to have the new gel implants inserted. The new gel does not migrate like the old gel implants did.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

The best way to detect a silicone leak is to get an MRI. A lump in the breast needs to be adequately evaluated to make sure it is not a malignancy.

Can Ruptured Silicone Implants Cause a Hard Lump Attached to Rib at 9:00? (photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Hard lump with old gel implants

Answer: Hard lump with old gel implants

Answer: Silicone leak?

Answer: Silicone leak?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

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Can Ruptured Silicone Implants Cause a Hard Lump Attached to Rib at 9:00? (photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Hard lump with old gel implants

Answer: Hard lump with old gel implants

Answer: Silicone leak?

Answer: Silicone leak?

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.