Silicone Implant Leakage: Is There Really A Risk?
Breast implants are becoming more popular all the time. Breast augmentation and reconstruction surgery can help improve the appearance and size of your breast, as well as, remedy breast defects and help breast cancer survivors regain confidence in their appearance. Silicone implants are considered more natural in appearance and feel. However, one of the main concerns with silicone implants is silicone implant leakage.
First of all, there are two types of silicone breast implants. Liquid silicone implants are more susceptible to leakage than silicone gel implants. Silicone gel implants are formed from a semi solid substance which helps prevent leakage. It is important to know the possible risks involved with silicone implant leakage when making the decision to get breast augmentation or reconstruction surgery.
In the early days of breast implants, women with silicone implant leakage showed signs of connective tissue diseases, such as arthritis. Studies could not determine whether there was any correlation between connective tissue diseases and silicone implant leakage, so the FDA took silicone breast implants off the market in the United States for a period of time. During this time, women that met certain criteria were allowed to have silicone breast implants if they participated in clinical studies.
In November 2006, the FDA approved silicone breast implants for the mainstream market after disproving the correlation between silicone implant leakage and connective tissue diseases. Women without silicone implant leakage, and even without implants, are just as susceptible to connective tissue diseases as those who suffer from silicone implant leakage. In the event of silicone implant leakage, the body is likely to form a thick scar tissue around the implant. This is the cause of capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is when the scar tissue tightens around the implant. This causes the implant to become hard, and it can be painful or uncomfortable. Silicone implant leakage and ruptures are more prominent in implants that have been in place for several years. The recent introduction of the silicone gel implant has not yet had time to fully develop studies on leakage and rupture rates and causes. Saline solution breast implants create a smaller scar than silicone implants. Because of the larger incision required for silicone implants, there is more scar tissue to tighten around the implant in the event of silicone implant leakage. This increases the risk of capsular contracture in silicone implants over saline implants. The incision for saline implants is smaller because the implants are empty when they are placed and filled once they are in position. Silicone implants, on the other hand, are pre-filled. Silicone implant leakage occurs slowly and can be difficult to notice. It is recommended that women with silicone breast implants get an MRI about every two years in order to quickly spot any ruptures. This helps prevent silicone from leaking into lymph nodes and major organs, such as the lungs. Unattended silicone implant leakage could cause problems, such as fibromyalgia. These studies have been inconclusive, but it is better to stay on the safe side and have regular checkups.
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