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Silent Rupture of Silicone Breast Implants

A recent published study of 584 women with silicone gel breast implants for 3-20 years found that 10.6% of the women had ruptures they were unaware of, called “silent ruptures.” A ruptured silicone implant cannot be detected by the woman or her physician on examination or by appearance. Unless discovered at a subsequent operation, such as for implant size change or capsular contracture, a ruptured implant may remain in place for years.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that women with silicone breast implants have a High Resolution Ultrasound (HRUS) or MRI scan to screen for silent rupture at 5-6 years after receiving the implant(s) and then every 2-3 years thereafter. If a rupture is detected, FDA recommends removal of the implant and any remaining silicone gel; manufacturers’ warranties provide replacement implant(s) for free.

Surveys show that 99.5% of women would like to know if they have a ruptured implant. However, a physician referral is needed to get an ultrasound scan at an imaging center. Since health insurance only covers implants used for cancer reconstruction, not for cosmetic reasons, getting a scan at an imaging center is self-pay and very expensive.

Getting an Ultrasound Scan to Screen for Silent Rupture

A High Resolution Ultrasound scan is a screening tool intended to detect rupture of silicone breast implants. No examination is performed of the breast surrounding the implant. The Salzman technique for HRUS scan of silicone breast implants was developed by Louisville plastic surgeon Dr. Marc Salzman while performing ultrasound scans on thousands of implants since 2012. After signing the consent form, an ultrasound technician specially trained in Dr. Salzman’s technique will scan your implant(s). This takes about 15-20 minutes and is painless. Your implant images will be sent to a board-certified radiologist who will examine the shell of your implant(s) for tears or ruptures and to determine if silicone gel is present outside the implant(s).

The radiologist’s report of the findings of the ultrasound scan of your implant(s) will be emailed to you in about ten days. As with MRI scans to detect implant rupture, ultrasound scans can be false-positive (implant appears ruptured but is actually intact) or false-negative (implant appears intact but is actually ruptured). If the radiologist’s report of ultrasound findings from this screening scan indicates an implant rupture, suspicious area or an abnormality, you should consult with a plastic surgeon who may recommend an MRI scan, removal of your implant(s) with or without replacement, other surgical procedures, or no treatment. A copy of the radiologist’s report and ultrasound scan will be provided to your healthcare providers upon receipt of a medical records request emailed to records@implantcheckup.com.