What Happens to Silicone Leaked into Breast Tissue?

Question

I've had silicone breast implants for over 30 years with no problems. Now despite even an MRI, doctors are undecided if the implant is ruptured or not. How urgent is it to get free silicone out of the breast and what does happen to free silicone? What is the proceedure to remove the silicone?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

IF the MRI cannot detect an implant rupture the silicone extravasation must be realtively negligible. Nonetheless,. the recommended management would likley be implant removal with capsulectomy and consideration for replacement if desired.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If a patient has a ruptured silicone implant I prefer to remove it as convenient as it is for the patient.  Usually it is self contained within the capsule and it is fairly easy to remove.

Randy Proffitt, MD · Answer

An MRI done with breast coils should pick up 90% of leaking or ruptured silicone implants. If I suspect a ruptured silicone implant I dissect around the capsule before opening it and potentially exposing raw silicone. This helps keep spillage of silicone to a minimum. When silicone gets out into the breast tissue, your body walls it off with scar tissue called granulomas. The only way to get rid of this is to cut out the granuloma including the breast tissue involved.

What Happens to Silicone Leaked into Breast Tissue?

Answers (3)