Do saline implants leak toxins?

I see patients who have a variety of symptoms after having breast implants placed, both saline and silicone gel. There is currently no scientific evidence that links implants to defined autoimmune disease, but individual symptoms have not been studied and silicone gel has been studied more than saline. I am a principal investigator in a study looking at systemic symptoms in women with breast implants. We are looking at the types of symptoms women have who have implants and symptoms, who have implants and no symptoms and women who have never had implants. For the women who have surgery to remove their implants, we are sending the capsule (scar tissue) that forms around the implants to various labs to look at heavy metals, bacterial and fungal DNA, and cytokines. We are also testing their peripheral blood for antibodies to bacterial toxins, thyroid function, Vit D levels and inflammatory markers. The study is sponsored by the Aesthetic Society, so plastic surgeons are interested in getting scientific data to see if we can find a link between implants and various symptoms. We know that one of the main concerns of women with breast implant illness is heavy metals in the implants as a cause of their symptoms, so we hope our study will provide scientific answers to your question. 

Removal of breast implants, intact or ruptured, may have positive implications if patients are symptomatic. A constellation of symptoms associated with breast implant illness, and autoimmune disease are considered when treating patients who have breast implants and are concerned about foreign body reaction. In our office, we begin this journey with a consideration of symptoms and exclusion of obvious autoimmune problems. In many of our patients, en bloc removal of breast implants with capsulectomy is important and beneficial. Further clinical evidence about breast implant illness is evolving and will continue to guide treatment. I would suggest removal if there is a possibility of foreign body reaction.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hello, thank you for your question. There is no proof that saline implants are toxic, they can leak but it is very unusual for a saline implant to have a "leak". Most often, when a saline device fails, the breast rapidly deflates.