When a silicone breast implant ruptures, it is much harder to detect than a saline implant rupture because the appearance of the breast often remains unchanged, a process known as silent rupture.
Current generation silicone implants contain a cohesive, gelatin-like silicone gel that is much thicker than saline and is formulated to remain safely and uniformly intact. If any cohesive silicone were to be released, it would leak into the implant capsule only (the scar tissue that surrounds the implant).
In such a case, if left untreated, the breast may become firmer and misshapen, hard lumps may appear, and changes in sensation (such as tenderness, pain, numbness, tingling or burning) may develop.
If a patient believes that one of her implants may have ruptured, she should
arrange to see Dr. Jugenburg immediately.
Silent ruptures are normally determined by using ultrasound or MRI scans to screen the breasts. Although routine tests also are recommended every few years; modern breast implants are highly durable and a damaged or ruptured implant is rare.
In the highly unlikely event that an implant rupture has occurred, an Implant Exchange procedure will need to be performed to remove and replace the ruptured implant.