Silicone breast implants, according to the Mayo Clinic, are used in breast reconstruction, although they are also used for cosmetic purposes, for breast augmentation. The procedure is complex and is performed by a plastic surgeon. For breast augmentation, silicone implants are available to patients over the age of 22. Women can be any age for breast reconstruction. The two types of breast implants differ in the material used to fill the implant sac. These materials are silicone and saline.
Subtle Changes
According to the Mayo Clinic, ruptures in silicone breast implants are difficult to detect and there may be few symptoms. There can be subtle changes to the shape of the breast after the implant has become ruptured. There can also be subtle changes to the size and contour of the breast. The Mayo Clinic notes that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is usually required to determine if there has been a rupture and to determine if the rupture is leaking outside the scar tissue that surrounds the implant.
Other Signs and Symptoms
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a rupture can result in signs and symptoms that are more obvious. There can be hard lumps over the chest area or the site of the implant. There can be pain and tenderness in the area near the implant. Also, the breasts can have an uneven appearance. There can be sensations of tingling and burning. Swelling can be a sign of a silicone breast implant rupture, and an additional symptom of a rupture is numbness.
Lumps
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that some ruptures of silicone breast implants result in the silicone migrating away from the site of the implant. When this occurs, it is called extracapsular because it escapes the fibrous capsule surrounding the site of the implant. This silicone may congregate into lumps that are called granulomas. These lumps can form in the arm, armpit, chest or breast.
Member Comments