Ruptured breast implant: How long can I be with it?

hello lily2014 Deflated or Ruptured Implant: For silicone implants prior to 2006, ruptures occur at rates of approximately 1-2% per year for the first ten years then markedly increases after that time period. A rupture or deflation of the implant may be experienced at any point after the initial augmentation; this complication may be increased by an under-filling or overfilling of saline solution into the implant, excessive compression, trauma, and other causes. (If the implant shell if not filled with the correct amount of saline, there may be a crease or fold in the shell which often leads to a rupture). The patient will be able to self-diagnose the need for an implant exchange (if using a saline implant) because if the current implant ruptures, the breast will shrink to approximately its preoperative size. A silicone implant that has a rupture is usually noted on a routine mammogram or MRI scan. In either case although the situation needs to be corrected on a timely basis, it is not dangerous to your health from our current knowledge base. Silicone implants after 2006 are more cohesive and less likely to leak.

There is no way to know in an  individual case, but the FDA strongly suggests removing ruptured gel implants, because over a time a gradually increasing percentage of women will get some of the gel into the tissues around the breast. If it were a saline implant, the only issue is that delaying will allow the pocket to contract, and some work on that will be needed at the time of re-augmentation.
There are undoubtedly many women with ruptured implants with no symptoms and no problems, who are unaware that their implants are ruptured.  That is why women with gel implants need an MRI or equivalent imaging study at intervals to check for implant rupture.  Once it is known that a patient has a rupture, I recommend removal and replacement if desired, within a reasonable period of time. That would be weeks or months, but not years.

The sooner that you remove the implant, the better, as scarring will ensue. I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with.   Finally, make sure your surgeon is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).Best,Dr. DesaiBeverly Hills Institute for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryHarvard Educated, Beverly Hills & Miami Beach TrainedDouble Board-Certified Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon