The Symptoms of the Implant Extruding?

Breast implant extrusion is heralded by skin discoloration as the soft tissues thin out over the implant. The area may be painful. Drainage would be a sign that the skin integrity has been breached and that the implant may be infected. At this stage you can probably feel or see the implant throught the skin wound.

This is one of those things where you'll hear- if you have a problem you are likely to know it... they are rarely subtle.  Be aware of thinning skin, redness, tenderness, warmth, or drainage.  If these issues occur, contact your plastic surgeon immediately.

It's uncommon for an implant to extrude years after surgery unless your skin is very thin. Symptoms usually include drainage from your breast with a black appearing object near the area of concern. Your implant is not black, it just appears that way when seen through a small hole.  This can be associated with or without redness to the skin. 

If you truly have concerns I strongly recommend you contact your surgeon.

Best of luck,

Jennifer Harrington MD

Signs/symptoms of impending breast implant extrusion are usually quite obvious. Patients may present with redness and/or drainage from the incision line. An exposed breast implant will also be clinically obvious with a  black object visible within an incision or wound area.

 I hope this helps.

If you have concerns about your breast implants, especially concerns regardinig a potential implant exposure, I would encourage you to schedule a follow-up with your surgeon as soon as possible. Open wounds on a breast that would allow an implant to be exposed can cause potentially serious issues with the implant, primarily with regard to infection.

If you have exposure of your implant then it should be removed. If you mean a potential implant leakage, then you can have them removed.

If the silicone rubber shell is ruptured it can be picked up on a mammogram or MRI scan.  If it is actually causing a skin brake down and erosion through the skin then you would may see a bluish discoloration.  If there is any question follow up with your plastic surgeon.  

In the early post-operative period (through the first few months), an extrusion will most commonly occur via the surgical incision site assuming it's on or near the breast (ie, not the axillary or umbilical).  With a fully healed breast of the duration that you're describing, extrusion is typically noted as thin skin, redness, possibly a change in color (the implant may show somewhat darker if under fair skin) and, ultimately, fluid coming through a weakness in the tissue.  Needless to say, for any concerns and professional assessment of this you should see your PS in person.

I hope that this helps and good luck,

Dr. E

Impending extrusion of a Breast Implant begins with redness on the underside of the Breast.

Once there is leakage of fluid extrusion or loss of implant is inevitable.