Common Ways for Breast Implants To Rupture

You may be considering getting breast implants in order to get a larger chest that lasts forever. While this is certainly more permanent than stuffing socks in your bra, or even using padded bras, this surgical treatment may not be as permanent as you believe. In fact, the majority of women will have to replace at least one implant in her lifetime, though many choose to get the surgery redone altogether several years after the initial operation. Find out more about the replacement of breast implants.

You can expect to have few issues with your newly enhanced chest for the first few years, which is not surprising given the cost. However, after about a decade, you may have to replace at least one implant, if not both. You may find that they are asymmetrical, or that one seems to be slowly sagging down while the other is perky. On the other hand, they may break completely, without any warning, requiring you to get revision surgery immediately. If the rupture is found to be the fault of anyone other than the surgeon or the implant's manufacturer, you will have to pay for the operation, so be prepared. It may be wise to set aside some money in a savings account or on a credit card so you can pay for any implant-related issues after the initial operation.

Various things can cause ruptures. One of the most common is trauma to the chest, which may include a car accident or a sudden fall. In such cases, the envelope that holds the gel is punctured so that either silicone or saline leaks out. You will likely notice that one side is smaller than the other as the gel gradually leaves the envelope. Of course, if you get hit in the chest, you should get checked out by your doctor anyway, as rupture of your breast implants is just one possibility that you need to worry about.

You may choose to stay safe by getting regular mammograms to check for cancer, but as it turns out, this may result in a puncture to your breast implants. This is especially likely when you neglect to tell the practitioner that you have had an augmentation, so be sure to mention it since most offices have a different protocol to use for patients like you. In some cases, though, practitioners are aware of the augmentation but they simply do not know how to give a mammogram without puncturing the chest, so make sure your doctor's office has some knowledge in this subject.

An additional issue that may occur after the initial surgery is capsular contracture, in which tissue grows around the implant. It may end up squeezing the device so much that it breaks, so be sure to see your doctor quickly if the breasts suddenly become harder than they should be. While not all of these causes of ruptured breast implants are avoidable, they are all best when treated immediately, so awareness of the most common issues is key.