Saline Implant Rupture Risk: What You Should Know

Breast implants should be durable and last for several years, but they do risk a chance of rupturing. The risk of implant rupture goes up as the implant increases in age. A minimum of 15 percent of implants can be expected to rupture between years three and ten after surgery.

The Main Causes Behind Implant Rupture Risk:

1. Age of the implant: the normal aging of implants also increases the risk of fractures.
2. Over or under-filling the implant: if implants are filled with more or less saline than recommended by the manufacturer, this can lead to leakage.
3. Excessive pressure on the implant from trauma or intense physical activity.
4. Excessive handling or loading of the implant during surgery.
5. Capsular contraction - Tissue tightening (capsular contraction) around the implant may increase the risk of rupture.
6. Defective implants - Sometimes, an implant can break due to a product defect, but this is relatively rare because breast implants should be rigorously tested for durability.

How Can I Know If My Implant Has Ruptured?

Since saline implants are filled with saltwater, any leak is absorbed by your body and excreted through urine. It may take a day or two to empty (if there is a large hole in the implant), or it may take weeks or months (if there is a small leak).

Symptoms of emptying include:

1. Reduced breast size
2. Less firm breasts
3. Reduced fullness of the upper breast
4. In addition to the visible symptoms, mild discomfort, including nausea and headaches, may occur within 48 hours of the saline implant rupture.

These symptoms are usually gradual and progressive. If unsure if you experienced deflation, you can check again in a few days or weeks. If your breast looks and feels the same as before, there is probably no deflation, but if the breast continues to lose fullness and firmness, you should seek help from an experienced plastic surgeon.

How Soon Should I Have The Implant Replaced?

While there is no rush to have saline implants drained, it is essential to have the implant removed or replaced as soon as possible, preferably within a few weeks of draining. The risk of untreated deflation is capsular contracture, which requires more complicated surgery than removing or replacing the implant.

How Can My Ruptured Breast Implant Be Fixed?

Even if only one saline implant is ruptured, both implants are usually removed and replaced during breast revision surgery, especially if the saline implants are older than ten years old. This prevents future implant rupture with the remaining intact but old implant.

Some patients choose to have their saline breast implants removed but not replaced. However, this is usually not recommended unless a breast lift is performed to remove excess skin pulled out of the saline implants.

A More Natural Alternative

Saline breast implants, while able to provide you with an enhanced and aesthetic-looking chest, will generally run the risk of rupturing or will eventually have to be replaced.

Eventually, you will have to deal with a logistical issue your health or wallet would like to prevent.

For lasting results that don't incur the same risk, the AirSculpt® Up a Cup™ Breast Enhancement allows you to transfer fat to your breasts without using scalpels, stitches, needles, or general anesthesia. 

With AirSculpt®, you can achieve an ideal aesthetic and significantly minimize the downsides associated with implantation. Results should last as long as the patient maintains their figure after treatment, and there is no need to return for implant removal or follow-up sessions. The end result is a much more natural look and feel than saline implants, all with a wide-awake treatment requiring just 24 to 48 hours of downtime. 

Patients who already had their implants removed make perfect candidates for our revision fat transfer breast enhancement, which can seamlessly fill in the implant void while also providing a lifting effect.

To learn more about this next-generation body contouring procedure in New York City or from any of our 20+ AirSculpt® offices worldwide, reach out to schedule a free consultation.