The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons issued a guidance advising the estimated 50,000 British women with Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) breast implants to have their implants checked for rupture and removed if rupture in one or both implants is discovered. 

The warning was issued after an inquiry by the French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons revealed the breast implants lack an essential protective barrier, making them more susceptible to rupture, and are filled with unapproved silicone gel that has not undergone safety tests.

When ruptures or leaks are found in breast implants, a breast augmentation revision may be recommended to replace breast implants; however, it may not always be necessary.

Some women choose not to have revision surgery if their ruptured implants do not cause problems with breast appearance or health, while others choose to have breast explant surgery, or breast implant removal, but do not have their ruptured implants replaced.  When breast implants are removed and a breast augmentation revision is not performed, a breast lift may be performed to remove skin stretched by the breast implants.

Unlike the faulty French PIP breast implants, silicone breast implants used for breast augmentation surgery in the U.S. are filled with safe, FDA-approved silicone gel, but they may rupture due to age, implant malfunction or trauma.  Ruptures are easy to detect in saline breast implants, as the implants deflate and noticeably lose volume, while an MRI is necessary in order to detect a rupture in silicone breast implants.

If you discover one or both of your breast implants have ruptured, don’t panic, as there is no immediate health risk.  Consult an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can show you before and after photos of satisfied patients and help you decide whether breast augmentation revision or breast explant surgery, with or without a breast lift, is right for you.