Ruptures happen quite often in many types of breast implants. This complication can arise due to excessive force or puncturing of the implant. Detecting ruptures is easier with some types of implants than it is in others.

Saline implants are the easiest breast implant to detect ruptures in. When damage occurs to the outer shell of a saline implant the liquid inside will slowly leak out. The saline solution is consumed by the body. As the saline solution leaks from the implant it causes it to deflate and decrease drastically in size.

Silicone breast implants that are used for a breast augmentation are the harder implant to detect a rupture in. Ruptures in silicone implants are rare but, they do happen. If a rupture does happen to occur, these implants will not leak in the same way as a saline style of implant will. The gel that is contained with the shell in a silicone implant is thick and does not move around as saline tends to. It is also not taken into the body the way that the saline solution does when a saline implant ruptures. Some patients that have a ruptured silicone breast implant complain that they feel pain or they notice a different feel to the implant. When one of these implants ruptures there are usually no visible signs of it.

A MRI is one of the only real ways for a cosmetic surgeon to tell if a silicone implant has ruptured. It is always a good practice to have routine MRI’s if the silicone implants are used during a breast augmentation. Always inform the MRI operator that have have breast enlargements inserted. If a silicone implant does happen to rupture the cosmetic surgeon will need to remove it and any gel that has leaked from within it. A new implant can be placed during this time if the patient wishes.