Plastic Surgeon Questions Plastic Surgeon

How do you know if a breast implant is leaking?

I am a 26 year old female and I have breast implants. I want to know how can I know if a breast implant is leaking?

9 Answers

Oftentimes a change in the appearance of the implant on physical examination can indicate that an implant may be ruptured but imaging the breast with mammography an ultrasound or an MRI examination is more precise.
Your surgeon should be able to tell you. If there is any question and the implants are over ten years old, just replace it/them.
Excellent question. With the newer silicone gel cohesive implants,you require an mri in my opinion, to see the disruption of the shell and leakage of material.With saline implants, there is a sudden decrease in size of one breast which is extremely disturbing to patients but poses absolutely no danger/

Thanks for your question!- whether or not you would be able to tell if your implant is leaking depends on which type of implant you have. If it’s Saline you would likely notice quickly as loss of volume. If it’s silicone depending on the type of implant you may not be able to tell and the FDA recommends MRI surveillance. If you have concerns you should follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Depends if you have silicone gel or saline breast implants. With saline, it is easy. It just deflated and you see the big asymmetry from one side to the other. With silicone gel, usually the leaking side, begins getting painful and firm.
A mammogram and/or MRI is the best way to be certain.
If it is saline, it will go flat and be obvious. If it is gel, it may be seen on X-ray, but you may have trouble appreciating this. The implants should move in the pocket regardless if saline or gel. There could be a recognizable size difference. The radiologist can tell.
Silicone implants you would have to get an MRI to detect that saline implant would get smaller in size
Thank you for the question. Would be nice to know if you have saline or silicone gel implants. First sign can be asymmetry, leaking implant side softer, at times painful. If you suspect an implant leak you should contact your surgeon. An ultrasound breast study or at times an MRI should be done if suspicious. Good luck to you.