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Causes and
Symptoms of
Rupture / Deflation
Rupture/deflation is a serious
complication that can occur after breast
augmentation. When there is a break in the
shell of the breast implants or an unsealed
or damaged valve leaks, the result is
rupture/deflation. Rupture/deflation has
different characteristics depending on
whether it occurs with saline or silicone
implants. This serious complication can
occur just a few months after the breast
augmentation surgery or it may occur after
ten or more years of having implants.
Risk Level
Medical studies have not been able to
pinpoint the exact level of risk posed by
rupture/deflation. Much of the reason for
such a large range is that the risk of
rupture/deflation depends on the type of
implant and several other factors. In 1995,
the
commissioner of the FDA testified before a congressional committee
that the risk of rupture/deflation is between five and fifty-one
percent. Other recent sources estimate that the risk is somewhere
between seven and seventy-seven percent. Manufacturer’s studies
claim the risk of rupture/deflation is about ten percent over ten
years.
Causes of Rupture / Deflation
There are certain activities that are
contraindicated, or not recommended, because
they can cause rupture/deflation.
-
closed
capsulotomy - a procedure to treat capsular contracture
-
placing any
substance besides saline into saline implants
-
injecting
through the implant shell
-
altering the
implants in any way
-
placing more
than one implant into the pocket created during breast augmentation surgery
There are several possible reasons that rupture/deflation :
-
Over-handling
of the implants during surgery, particularly the TUBA technique, can
compromise the implants and increase the risk of rupture/deflation.
-
Surgical
instruments may also damage the implants during breast augmentation surgery.
Over or under filling of the breast implants may also lead to
rupture/deflation.
-
Capsular
contracture
-
Physical
pressure or trauma
-
Compression
during a mammogram
-
Damage related
to other medical procedures like a biopsy or fluid drainage
Normal aging of the
implants also increases the risk of rupture/deflation.
Symptoms of Rupture / Deflation
Rupture/deflation in saline implants usually
happens immediately or may take a few days
to occur. When saline implants rupture or
deflate it is noticeable to the woman. Her
breast will look “deflated” and/or the size
and shape of her breast will change. Silent
ruptures, without any symptoms, are more
common with silicone implants. When a
silicone rupture/deflation occurs, the gel
may stay within the capsule or may slowly
leak to surrounding areas such as the chest
wall, armpit, and even make its way to
organs like the liver. Without symptoms, the
only way to tell that a silicone implant has
ruptured is to have an MRI performed. It is
unclear exactly what health complications
are caused by the presence of silicone in
the body.
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