Can deflated saline implants be safely left inside the breast once all fluid has been drained?

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

There is no evidence to suggest leaving deflated breast implants in place has significant risks. These implants are easy to remove under local anesthesia and it seems wise to remove them when convenient.

Hi MoxeyB,I'm sorry you're having these symptoms. Deflating the implants may help some with the pain if it is due to weight. Your body will absorb the saline. This technique is often employed when patients plan to have their saline implants removed. Deflating them in the office gives the patient and surgeon an opportunity to see how much the skin will retract after deflation and can help guide the amount of skin removal needed for a breast lift. However, it sounds as though your symptoms are likely due to a combination of capsular contracture and possibly weight. Leaving the deflated implants in place is likely not medically dangerous, but you will likely have the best relief of symptoms by having the implants and the surrounding capsule removed. Please make sure you have a face-to-face consult with a board certified plastic surgeon so that he/she can examine you before you make your decision. Best wishes, Ross Blagg, M.D. 

Yes I have heard of this technique but I dont do it.  I prefer to remove the implant if it is deflated.

If the idea is to leave them in for a short period of time while your tissue contracts around the implant to later have either an exchange or lift then the answer is it will probably be ok. But I have seen three case where doctors left them in for years deflated and the patients eventually developed so much scar tissue that it became very painful which then lead them to come in and have them removed. So typically we would take them out.