
- Implant rupture can happen due to damage by surgical instruments, trauma (such as in a car accident), compression during mammographic imaging, normal aging of the implant, or other factors
- Rupture of a silicone implant most often goes unnoticed because the silicone tends to remain inside the scar tissue capsule surrounding the implant. Silicone implant rupture that doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms is known as “silent rupture”
- Typically, the only way to detect and/or confirm a silent rupture is through ultrasound or MRI imaging. The FDA recommends that people with silicone implants have an MRI 3 years after the initial surgery and then every 2 years after that to determine if rupture is present
- If implant rupture is noted on an MRI, you should have the implant removed, with or without replacement
- Symptoms of a ruptured implant may include hard knots or lumps surrounding the implant or in the armpit, change or loss of size or shape of the breast or implant, pain, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, or hardening of the breast. See your plastic surgeon if you notice any of these changes
- Be sure to inform any other doctor who treats you of the presence of your implants to minimize the risk of damage to the implants
1. NATRELLE® Directions for Use.