Car accident and had surgery to replace, but MRI shows masses of silicone still inside with a rippled implant. Is it dangerous?

Disucussed with my doctor three times and had images sent directly to him.
But after two months, I went to have an MRI and there were MASSES silicone I can fell, and the implant is rippled since there is no room for it.

How long should I wait? How dangerous is it to leave the silicone in? Please help.

Answers from doctors (6)


More About Doctor Michelle Roughton, MD

Published on Nov 25, 2019

There are no health risks that we know of with a ruptured breast implant--so I wouldn't say dangerous. When the gel gets out of the capsule or pocket, it can be harder for us to find surgically and is just done by feel. Sometimes when you have had trauma such as a car accident you can get areas of hard scarring that result from small hematomas (collections of blood) or fat necrosis (literally dead fat in the breast). It may not be silicone at all. All of these things can be taken out or biopsied.

Answered by Michelle Roughton, MD (View Profile)

There are no health risks that we know of with a ruptured breast implant--so I wouldn't say dangerous. When the gel gets out of the capsule or pocket, it can be harder for us to find surgically and is just done by feel. Sometimes when you have had trauma such as a car accident you can get areas of hard scarring that result from small hematomas (collections of blood) or fat necrosis (literally dead fat in the breast). It may not be silicone at all. All of these things can be taken out or biopsied.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Harry Glassman, M.D.

Published on Jan 31, 2019

If your implant is ruptured and you have free silicone in your breast, you should have surgery to remove the implant and as much of the free silicone that can be located. This is not an immediate health hazard; however, the sooner you have the surgery, the less difficult it will be for the surgeon.

Answered by Harry Glassman, M.D. (View Profile)

If your implant is ruptured and you have free silicone in your breast, you should have surgery to remove the implant and as much of the free silicone that can be located. This is not an immediate health hazard; however, the sooner you have the surgery, the less difficult it will be for the surgeon.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Tim Sayed MD, MBA, FACS

Published on Sep 01, 2017

It's not clear what real long-term risks there may be with leaving silicone material in place from a previously ruptured implant other than we know it can cause local scar tissue, pain and increase the risk of capsular contracture. There is also a small risk of infection, as it is foreign material and if it does become infected, that could threaten your new implant. It may simply not be possible to remove all silicone material without excavating through the whole breast, which may place blood supply to the nipple and nerve sensation at great risk for compromise. It's best that your plastic surgeon examines you in the office to assess your physical findings.

It might be something that you just live with and monitor with exams and periodic MRIs for symptoms if they arise, but if otherwise asymptomatic (other than being able to feel the firmness), your surgeon might elect to continue to follow this as opposed to operating and potentially engaging in a technical misadventure trying to chase down all the silicone particles.

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Answered by Tim Sayed MD, MBA, FACS

It's not clear what real long-term risks there may be with leaving silicone material in place from a previously ruptured implant other than we know it can cause local scar tissue, pain and increase the risk of capsular contracture. There is also a small risk of infection, as it is foreign material and if it does become infected, that could threaten your new implant. It may simply not be possible to remove all silicone material without excavating through the whole breast, which may place blood supply to the nipple and nerve sensation at great risk for compromise. It's best that your plastic surgeon examines you in the office to assess your physical findings.

It might be something that you just live with and monitor with exams and periodic MRIs for symptoms if they arise, but if otherwise asymptomatic (other than being able to feel the firmness), your surgeon might elect to continue to follow this as opposed to operating and potentially engaging in a technical misadventure trying to chase down all the silicone particles.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Charles A. Messa, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Published on May 13, 2017

Thank you for your question. The presence of retained silicone particles is not dangerous in and of itself. However it appears that there is breast distortion and palpable masses present. I feel you should get a second opinion from another board-certified plastic surgeon to determine if the silicone masses can be safely removed. It is important to allow enough time post-operatively from the replacement surgery before performing a secondary corrective procedure. It should be approximately six months to one year, depending on the condition of your breast tissue.

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Answered by Charles A. Messa, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Thank you for your question. The presence of retained silicone particles is not dangerous in and of itself. However it appears that there is breast distortion and palpable masses present. I feel you should get a second opinion from another board-certified plastic surgeon to determine if the silicone masses can be safely removed. It is important to allow enough time post-operatively from the replacement surgery before performing a secondary corrective procedure. It should be approximately six months to one year, depending on the condition of your breast tissue.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Vanek Plastic Surgery

Published on May 08, 2017

The material you described is retained ruptured silicone implant material. This is usually not a health risk to you. However if the masses become granulomatous or calcified, you may become symptomatic from your immune response locally to the silicone material.

Depending upon your situation, if the material is palpable then that is termed clinically evident. If the material is only seen on an MRI and you have no symptoms of mass pressure, etc- then you are not obligated to do anything about it.

Prior to removing your ruptured silicone implants and replacing them, your surgeon may have investigated this on your behalf to facilitate surgical planning.

Usually both gross silicone as well as microscopic silicone are removed at the time of your removal of your ruptured implants.

If you are experiencing symptoms from this massive silicone material, it sounds like you need another operation. You can return to your original surgeon for an opinion but it does not sound like your initial surgical experience was as favorable as it could have been, which of course calls into question whether or not you wish to continue with him or her.

Answered by Vanek Plastic Surgery (View Profile)

The material you described is retained ruptured silicone implant material. This is usually not a health risk to you. However if the masses become granulomatous or calcified, you may become symptomatic from your immune response locally to the silicone material.

Depending upon your situation, if the material is palpable then that is termed clinically evident. If the material is only seen on an MRI and you have no symptoms of mass pressure, etc- then you are not obligated to do anything about it.

Prior to removing your ruptured silicone implants and replacing them, your surgeon may have investigated this on your behalf to facilitate surgical planning.

Usually both gross silicone as well as microscopic silicone are removed at the time of your removal of your ruptured implants.

If you are experiencing symptoms from this massive silicone material, it sounds like you need another operation. You can return to your original surgeon for an opinion but it does not sound like your initial surgical experience was as favorable as it could have been, which of course calls into question whether or not you wish to continue with him or her.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Gerald Minniti, M.D., F.A.C.S

Published on May 05, 2017

Ruptured silicone gel implants do not pose a danger to humans. At the appropriate time, you should have a surgery to remove the implant and replace it with a new one.

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Answered by Gerald Minniti, M.D., F.A.C.S

Ruptured silicone gel implants do not pose a danger to humans. At the appropriate time, you should have a surgery to remove the implant and replace it with a new one.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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