Four Risks Associated with Breast Implants

Whenever you undergo a surgical procedure, there are going to be risks involved. We have many patients come in and ask us the same question: What are the risks involved with getting silicone or saline breast implants? Today, we wanted to go over the four most talked-about risks associated with getting breast implants and what you can do to ensure you’re safe.

1. Rupture or Leaks

Breast implants have the potential to rupture or leak into the breast cavity in the event of trauma. While both saline and silicone implants have the potential to rupture, it is more common to spot saline-filled breast implant ruptures than those with silicone gel-filled implants. The saline implant will leak rapidly and flatten in the chest over a period of a few days, while the silicone implant rupture may require an MRI to notice. The saline fluid that leaks into the body will simply dissolve into the system and is considered to be harmless. In the event of a silicone breast implant rupture, the silicone will need to be removed, and the affected areas will need to be cleaned prior to getting new breast implants.

2. Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture is a condition in which scar tissue forms over the entire breast implant. This results in the implant being squeezed tightly, becoming hard and irregularly shaped. Capsular contracture is easy to spot and, although not necessarily considered a dangerous complication, may be uncomfortable and cause pain in the breasts. To fix a capsular contracture, you may either remove the scar tissue that forms over the breast implant or the entire breast implant itself during another breast implant surgery.

3. Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a very rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that forms as a result of getting textured breast implants (a specific type of silicone breast implant), affecting only 1 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. This condition is only diagnosed after a biopsy taken from the breast tissue tests positive for the disease. It is possible in both breast augmentation and breast reconstruction patients. While this complication is associated with breast implants and breast augmentation surgery, it is very, very rare, and not a form of breast cancer.

4. Breast Implant Illness

Breast implant illness (BII) is a self-diagnosed condition that results in a series of seemingly unrelated neurological symptoms. While this is not an officially diagnosable condition, breast implant patients have dubbed the name after experiencing a combination of fatigue, hair loss, headaches, chronic pain, brain fog, and other mysterious symptoms after undergoing breast augmentation surgery. If you have been experiencing an undiagnosed combination of symptoms, we recommend reaching out to BII support groups to talk to others about their experiences.

Breast Implant Removal and Breast Implant Exchange

The most popular two options available to treat the above complications are breast implant removal and breast implant exchange surgery. These surgeries include the removal of breast implants from the chest and the possibility of replacing the affected breast implants with a new pair. Talk to Dr. Widenhouse if this is an option for you.

If you are interested in learning more about the risks associated with breast augmentation with breast implants, and possible treatment options for your complications, don’t hesitate to call our office and schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Widenhouse today.