Silicone breast implants are not guaranteed to last a woman's lifetime, and a variety of problems are associated with the implants, according to the Mayo Clinic. Silicone breast implants are currently approved by the FDA for women age 22 and over for cosmetic purposes and any age for reconstructive purposes. Silicone breast implants were not available between the years 1992 and 2005, because the Food and Drug Administration was concerned about health risks associated with the elective surgery. As of 2006, the implants were once again approved for surgery. During 2009, 50 percent of all breast augmentations were performed using silicone implants, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Rupture
Silicone breast implants may rupture; most silicone implants rupture by the time they are 10 years old. No signs or symptoms are visible when the implant ruptures, reports Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, and a ruptured or leaking silicone implant can go undetected for years. Still, some women experience burning, tingling or pain in the affected breast as well as change in breast size or hardness in the breast. Ruptured implants are commonly identified by ultrasound, mammogram, CT scan or MRI. A ruptured implant causes additional scar tissue to form as well as inflammation of the present scar tissue. There are no known harmful medical side effects or conditions associated with ruptured implants. The causes of a ruptured implant include defect in the implant, trauma or aging of the implant. Treatment includes removal of the implant and associated scar tissue. A new implant may be inserted; if a new implant is not inserted, a breast lift is often suggested. After surgery a woman with silicone breast implants must receive a postoperative MRI after three years to check for ruptured implants and then every two years, reports BreastImplantInfo.org.
Capsular Contracture
Once inserted inside the woman's breast, scar tissue naturally forms around the silicone implant. The scar tissue is the body's natural defense mechanism against foreign objects in the body and is expected to occur. The scar tissue forms a capsule surrounding the implant, and sometimes the capsule is very small and tight, causing capsular contracture to occur. Symptoms include uneven or lopsided breasts, pain, firm or hard breasts or breasts appearing like round balls. Once capsular contracture occurs, surgery to remove the implants and scar tissue is often required. According to BreastImplantInfo.org, some of the natural breast tissue may also be removed during the surgery, making a woman's breast size smaller than it was naturally.
Difficulties with Mammograms
Breast implants may cause difficulty viewing a woman's mammogram, reports the Mayo Clinic. Decreased viewing ability diminishes the chance that breast cancer will be detected, if present. However, testing for breast cancer can still be accomplished. Visiting a center where radiologists are experienced in reading mammograms of women with breast implants is recommended. A woman should always explain to medical staff before a mammogram that she has implants. The Mayo Clinic also advises that there is a slight risk of implants rupturing during the mammogram.
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