Society has been more accepting of the scientific ways to improve one’s physical looks. Women who decide to go under the knife are no longer frowned upon and are often admired for their bravery of going after what they want.

Breast Augmentation is one of the more popular surgical procedures for women who want to improve how they look and feel about their body. Often referred to as a “boob job,” this procedure enlarges the breast size either by saline implants or silicone gel-filled ones. Silicone gel-filled implants are the more popular choice because they feel more natural than saline-filled ones. Moreover, these silicone gel implants are less likely to wrinkle than the saline kind. However, these gel implants pose more danger if they leak or happen to rupture.

Causes of Silicone Implant Rupture

A silicone implant can rupture as a result of a variety of reasons. Some of these include:

Aged Implant

Because these gel implants are inside a shell, these shells can rupture due to weakening with age. Implants are supposed to have a lifespan of 10-15 years, and more or less need to be replaced at least once in a lifetime.

Forceful Physical Pressure

Trauma caused by extreme and forceful physical pressure, such as car accidents, can cause the implant to rupture. Sometimes even a mammogram can be a cause of forceful pressure if there is excessive compression applied during the procedure.

Damage by other Surgical Instruments

In a study conducted last 2013, results showed that about 51- 64% of ruptures were caused by surgical instruments during the initial implant surgery, wherein this case, secondary surgery is needed to replace the ruptured shell. Needles inserted in the performance of a biopsy can also be another cause of damage.

Symptoms of Silicone Implant Rupture

Unlike a saline implant, when a silicone implant ruptures, the leak usually happens slowly but poses a threat as the gel drifts to the different organs of the body such as the lungs, brain, liver, etc. Often, there are no apparent signs of deflation or rupture. However, symptoms such as the following can also be evident:

  1. Change in breast size or shape;
  2. Swelling of the breast;
  3. Burning sensation of the breast; and
  4. Pain or tenderness of the breast.

There are certain early signs that can give you a hint that something might be wrong with your implants. Here are a few things to look out for when you have implants:

Skin redness

If there are no evident insect bites, and you notice that the skin around your breasts looks red, then a visit to your doctor is a must. Chances are there is something wrong with your implants.

Unusual swelling

Whether you have implants or not, swelling in the breast area is very alarming and requires a checkup. However, if you have implants, this is more reason to be alarmed, as this may mean your implants are leaking.

Burning sensation

The burning sensation may come from the gel mixing up and drifting to your different organs.

Once you have experienced these symptoms and noticed these red flags, you must visit your doctor, where you had your operation done for them to diagnose what was wrong with your implants.

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