Silicone Bleed

Silicone can leak out of the implant without an obvious rupture of the shell. A slow silicone leak occurs through an intact shell. This "silicone bleed" is only noticeable when a doctor removes the implant or when the patient undergoes another type of breast surgery. Older generations of silicone implants bleed more often relative to the newer "cohesive" implants. No study definitively shows clinical consequences associated with a silicone gel bleed. Over time, extremely small amounts of silicone gel material and platinum pass through the shell layer of the implant and coat the outside of the implant. Studies indicate that silicone gel contains small amounts of platinum in its most biologically compatible state (with zero oxidation). Sometimes microgram amounts of platinum appear outside of the silicone gel implant. The presence of platinum may contribute to capsular contracture and lymph node swelling. Overall, evidence suggests that an extremely low level of silicone gel via a silicone gel bleed is of no clinical consequence.

Silicone Breast Implant Bleed

Liquid silicone or silicone gel can bleed or leak out of an intact breast implant shell. A silicone gel bleed is only present with silicone implants and an MRI can diagnose a leak. Modern silicone implant shells dramatically decrease the rate of a bleed. Occasionally with older implants, silicone leaks to the underarms or throughout the breast tissue.

Breast Implant Complications

Undergoing any surgical procedure may involve complications like the effects of anesthesia, possible infection, swelling, redness, bleeding and pain. Breast implant placement can be a complex surgery and complications may occur. Though generally safe, breast implants are medical devices and they can fail. If detected early enough, replacing a ruptured breast implant, particularly saline-filled breast implants, is similar to replacing a battery in a battery compartment. If detected late, ruptured silicone implants can cause thickening of scar tissue around the implant, which can lead to breast deformity and pain. Delayed replacement or removal of ruptured breast implants can be more complicated.

Breast Enlargement

Breast enlargement surgery involves using breast implants to achieve fuller breasts. Some women have breast augmentation surgery to improve their self-image. Some feel dissatisfied because the size of their breasts do not meet expectations. Others want to bring balance to a breast that is somewhat smaller than the other is. Often women want the procedure to restore their natural breast volume, which may have decreased because of pregnancy, weight loss, aging or even breast cancer surgery.

A surgeon performs the procedure in a surgical facility under a light where an anesthesiologist administers a general and local anesthetic for the surgery, which lasts from one to two hours. The surgeon enlarges the breasts by placing soft implants through a small incision, either though the armpit, from around the nipple or under the breast. Both saline and silicone implants are now available.

More Resources