Breast implant rejection symptoms. Implant rejection

General overview of the procedure

Mammoplasty is a surgical restoration of the size or shape of the breast by installing specially designed implants into the mammary gland.

The operation is performed under general anesthesia, the incision is made with a surgical scalpel.

To install a foreign body in the chest, it is necessary to form a pocket by separating the tissues from each other. Such an intervention does not leave its mark on the body and requires it to have certain reserves for rapid recovery.

The average rehabilitation period after mammoplasty lasts about 1-3 months, depending on the patient’s health condition. The full result can be assessed after six months.

Consequences of breast augmentation surgery

• in inflammatory diseases of the skin and soft tissues in the chest area
• bleeding disorders
• malignant form of hypertension
• diabetes
• pregnancy
• lactation
• breast cancer
• presence of contraindications to general anesthesia

With breast augmentation, there are risks and complications, pros and cons.

Early complications after breast augmentation

• hematomas, seromas Diagnosing bleeding in the pocket in the early stages (the first day or week) is not difficult. This is a sudden enlargement of one of the mammary glands and asymmetric pain. Urgent reoperation, removal of the endoprosthesis, hemostasis, lavage of the pocket and reimplantation of the same endoprosthesis are indicated. The prognosis is favorable.
• infection It is important to know that any foreign material introduced into the body, such as an artificial hip joint, intravenous catheter, artificial heart valve, or silicone implant, increases the risk of bacteria entering the patient's skin. The influence of infection on the development of capsular contracture has not been proven. However, the degree of pre-existing capsular contracture may increase with bacterial infection. Chronic subclinical infection can occur in patients with any type of implant. Such an infection, regardless of the location of its source, can be accompanied by various symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, periodic rises in body temperature, aches and muscle pain.

Long-term consequences after breast augmentation

• sensory disturbances After surgery, breast sensitivity is often temporarily reduced around the nipples, and sometimes over a larger area. This happens because when making a pocket for the implant, you have to stretch the small branches of the tactile nerves that go to the skin. Sensitivity usually returns within a month or two, and in most patients it is completely restored within six months.
• thinning of the skin over the implant
• implant displacement Surgical correction of displacement involves changing the boundaries of the pocket (with or without implant replacement
• rough scars Scars (sutures) after breast augmentation surgery usually (99 percent) turn out thin. Due to a number of reasons (for example, severe swelling of tissues, the reaction of the patient’s body, non-compliance with recommendations, etc.), scars can stretch, hypertrophy, and then, if this happens, scar correction is needed, which is possible only 0.5 years after surgery .

Rare complications after breast augmentation

Silicone implant rupture A rupture refers to the formation of a crack or hole in the implant shell.

A rupture can occur in the following cases: destruction of the implant wall over time; undetected damage during surgery; weakness of the shell that arose during the production of the implant; chest trauma, such as a seat belt injury in a car accident or external capsulotomy (destruction of the fibrous capsule).

The consequences of the rupture may be local and/or regional. The consequences of rupture of an implant filled with silicone gel may not lead to significant changes, since the silicone often remains inside the fibrous capsule (intracapsular rupture). In this case, the shape and elasticity of the mammary gland may change slightly.

In cases where, when a rupture of the implant shell occurs, the gel extends beyond the fibrous capsule (extracapsular rupture) , its consequences have a greater impact on the change in the shape of the implant and can lead to a decrease in the size of the mammary gland as a result of gel leakage beyond the chest area.

In the vast majority of cases with extracapsular ruptures, the gel remains within the formed surgical pocket and can be evacuated when the implant is removed.

Intracapsular rupture is difficult or impossible to detect using diagnostic techniques (mammography, ultrasound, nuclear magnetic tomography). Often this condition is only diagnosed during surgery. However, the capabilities of diagnostic technology continue to develop and improve. In contrast, an extracapsular rupture is usually easily detected using diagnostic equipment.

Capsular contracture (capsular contracture) The body forms a shell of scar tissue (fibrous capsule) around any implanted foreign material, and breast implants are no exception.

Scar tissue shrinks, but the degree of compression varies not only from woman to woman, but even from breast to breast within the same woman. Compression, or capsular contracture, manifests itself in women as pronounced thickening of the breasts.

When using old implants with a smooth surface (1st and 2nd generation), pronounced capsular contracture occurred in 40-60% of all implantation cases. Later, when implants with a textured surface (3rd generation) were used, the incidence of capsular contracture dropped to 10%.

There was no effect on the incidence of capsular contracture depending on the type of filler used for implants.

Other factors, such as subclinical hematoma, shrinkage of the surgical pocket, or subclinical infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis (a bacterium that is found on the skin under normal conditions), may cause capsular contracture to develop.

(All, including the most recent models of endoprostheses, contain inserts in their boxes informing about the risk of noticeable capsular contractures, which increases over time and can cause distortions so noticeable that reoperation is required. With modern implants and prosthetic methods, the frequency of the capsular contour may vary within 1-3%. The risk of development depends on little-studied factors, but also on the characteristics of the texture of the implant shell. Controlled studies of world leaders in the production of breast prostheses, corporations Mac Gan and Mentor, showed extremely low percentages of development of fibrous contracture in periods from 4 to 7 years ).

The consequences (problems) after breast augmentation surgery can be reduced if you follow all the recommendations of your plastic surgeon!

Surgery can enlarge the breasts, correct physiological changes (such as sagging and loss of volume) and relieve psychological discomfort.

the consequences of mammoplasty may be, depending on the characteristics of the body and improper behavior during rehabilitation. And mistakes by surgeons are not excluded.

Source: https://davleniegood.ru/info/posledstvija-operacii-po-uvelicheniju-grudi/

Limits of postoperative norm

Throughout the recovery period, the woman must follow all the recommendations of the plastic surgeon. This will minimize all possible risks.

Of course, postoperative complications cannot be avoided completely. For example, about a week after the intervention the patient will experience noticeable pain

. Such discomfort is normal and can be eliminated with specially selected analgesics.

You cannot do without bruises and swelling - they are an acceptable consequence after mammoplasty if they are not accompanied by severe pain and an increase in body temperature.

To control the situation, it is necessary to regularly visit a plastic surgeon throughout the entire rehabilitation period.

How are implants and oncology related?

Discussions about whether implants can cause breast cancer have been going on for a long time, says the doctor. Research conducted by scientists and doctors since the late 1980s suggests that there is no connection between breast enlargement and cancer. Moreover, observations have shown that women who have implants have a lower risk of developing cancer.

“It cannot be said that having implants prevents the development of cancer. The research data can be explained by the fact that women who decide to install implants and invest a lot of money in their breasts more often visit a mammologist, have an ultrasound scan and carefully monitor their health,” explains the surgeon.

Complications and solutions

In some cases, a woman notices that the implant in the breast is not positioned correctly or that any movement of the body brings unbearable pain.

Most complications develop in the first hours and days after surgery, but sometimes problems can appear months or even years later.

If discomfort occurs, it is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner in order to immediately begin treatment, if necessary.

Swelling

With normal recovery of the body, swelling disappears 3-5 days after surgery. This is the maximum period during which excessive hyperemia and tissue swelling should pass.

Edema is pathological if:

• there was a feeling of fullness;
• the skin around the chest is very red;
• local low-grade fever (skin is hot to the touch);
• body temperature increased;
• pain is not relieved by analgesics.

If such signs appear, you should urgently consult a doctor.

Excessive swelling is eliminated by physiotherapy and the application of cooling compresses in a hospital setting. It is not recommended to treat swelling on your own.

If the pathology is accompanied by the formation of pus under the implant, surgical treatment is prescribed.

Seroma

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Seroma is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the subcutaneous fat. Such a complication can be caused by incorrect actions of the surgeon during surgery, implants that are too large for a certain breast, or non-anatomical tissue dissection.

When to suspect a seroma:

• the chest is very swollen;
• clear liquid is released from the unhealed scar of the swollen mammary gland;
• the pain is constant;
• the scar turned very red.

To eliminate serous fluid, drainage of the postoperative wound or its dissection is prescribed, followed by pumping out the biological material. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in combination.

Dangerous hematomas

A hematoma is an ordinary bruise, that is, subcutaneous hemorrhage.

It can appear due to injury to the unrecovered breast, improper stopping of bleeding during implant installation, and unqualified actions of medical personnel during the rehabilitation period.

Minor bruising is normal and will resolve on its own.

But in some cases, medical attention is required.

When consultation is needed:

• the hematoma is very extensive, it can spread under the chest or into the shoulder area;
• the symptom is accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
• the pain does not go away a week after the operation.

The first thing you need to do is stop the bleeding.

To do this, the specialist uses hemostatic agents, medications to lower blood pressure (if necessary) and the application of ice compresses.

In the future, extensive hematoma must be removed using tissue drainage.

Breast sagging

Sometimes sagging occurs long after surgery, as a natural process of tissue aging. But if we talk about complications, ptosis should be mentioned.

It can be artificial and pronounced.

In the first case, sagging occurs due to the installed implant being too small; in the second, tissue sagging is a feature of the body and its reaction to a foreign body.

How to determine ptosis:

• nipples are located above the average level of the chest;
• the mammary glands are strongly drooping;
• The distance between the collarbones and the beginning of the chest has increased.

Sagging mammary glands can only be corrected through repeated plastic surgery. The specialist must select implants that are larger in size and perform the operation based on the characteristics of the body.

Implant contouring

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This complication most often develops in those women who have too thin a layer of subcutaneous fat. When the implant is installed not under the muscle, but directly under the mammary gland, its contours can be visible through the surface of the epidermis.

How to determine contouring:

• the contours of the implant can be seen visually and palpated;
• the chest protrudes unnaturally.

To eliminate this complication, the specialist will suggest the introduction of special corrective fillers. In some cases, lipofilling is indicated.

This procedure involves taking sebum from suitable areas on the patient's body and then transplanting it into the chest area.

Implant displacement

Implant displacement is another unpleasant complication after mammoplasty. Most often it develops due to improper selection of an endoprosthesis.

or illiterate actions of the plastic surgeon during the operation.

How to determine offset:

• the implant protrudes unnaturally to the side from its main position;
• The mammary glands look asymmetrical.

In the early stages, you can correct the situation by wearing a special corrective corset and a certain position of the body while sleeping. Also, when the implant is displaced, all physical activity is temporarily eliminated.

Inflammation, suppuration

One of the most dangerous complications is suppuration of the postoperative suture.

This can happen due to non-compliance with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis during surgery, the patient’s failure to follow the doctor’s recommendations, and improper treatment of the scar.

How does the complication manifest itself?

• the chest is very swollen and burning;
• in a short time the body temperature rises to high levels;
• the skin around the mammary gland turns red;
• pus is separated from the suture or nipple itself.

In the initial stages, inflammation can be stopped by taking antibacterial agents and intensive treatment of inflamed skin.

If the process cannot be controlled with medication, surgical intervention is prescribed.

Loss of sensation

During the first time after an incision in the skin, it loses its sensitivity. This is not a pathology and can be quickly eliminated with the help of physiotherapy.

But sometimes the patient does not feel the breast tissue or the nipple itself for a long time. This complication occurs due to incorrect actions of the surgeon during mammoplasty, which can damage the nerve network.

To combat the problem, the specialist prescribes a complex of physiotherapy and massage.

Capsular contracture

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After installing the implant in the mammary gland, connective tissue begins to form around it. In normal condition, it does not exceed a tenth of a millimeter and the growth stops there.

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But due to the characteristics of the body, this process can progress, which provokes the formation of capsular contracture.

How to determine a complication:

• the endoprosthesis and its contours can be felt by hand;
• breast deformation occurs;
• seals, dents or defects appear on the mammary gland;
• when touched, the patient feels pain.

The second stage of capsular contracture is eliminated with the help of physiotherapy, massage, the use of vitamin E and a complex of anti-inflammatory injections.

Stages 3 and 4 can only be corrected surgically.

To do this, the specialist completely removes the implant, removes the contracture and installs it again. Sometimes a smaller endoprosthesis is selected.

Rippling or skin ripples

Rippling, also called skin rippling, is a fairly rare complication after mammoplasty. This can happen due to the characteristics of the patient’s body, the incorrectly selected type and size of the implant, as well as the illiterate actions of the surgeon.

How to determine the appearance of skin ripples:

• predominantly, the defect is noticeable when the body is tilted forward;
• peculiar folds appear on the skin of the chest, similar to fingerprints.

Most often, breast lipolifting is used to eliminate the defect.

In some cases, a specialist may recommend replacing the implant with an endoprosthesis with a denser structure.

Why breast implants can go bad and how dangerous it is

In the dead of night on December 24, 48-year-old Lera Kudryavtseva reported terrible news. A popular TV presenter required emergency surgery to remove implants from her breasts.

Lera admitted that 15 years ago she had her bust enlarged in one of the best clinics in St. Petersburg. All this time, absolutely nothing bothered the star. However, during a recent examination, it turned out that the implant in the left breast had been seriously damaged for several years.

“It lasts for 5-6 years. Where could we not have gone during this time…” the shocked star wrote on her microblog.

Kudryavtseva said that she underwent surgery to remove the implants and excise the silicone that had spread from the body tissues. Now the presenter is still under the supervision of doctors.

The woman promised that as soon as she felt better, she would definitely tell what exactly happened to her. “If my story saves at least a few girls from getting implants, then everything will not be in vain.

I have a lot of information, and suddenly someone will hear me,” Lera concluded.

Hoping to learn new information, Internet users closely monitor Kudryavtseva’s social networks and inquire about her condition.

However, among the star’s subscribers there are also those who do not understand how this could even happen.

“Have you really not noticed for so many years that something is wrong with your breasts? Where, one wonders, were the doctors looking? Or maybe you didn’t carry out the required medical examinations?” - followers are indignant.

Woman.ru tried to find out why such a disaster suddenly happened to Lera. We turned to candidates of medical sciences, plastic surgeons Yuri Dikov, Dmitry Melnikov (the Semeynaya chain of clinics)

and Ilya Sergeev
(Doctor Plastic clinic)
to talk about the risks associated with installing implants.

Was it or wasn't it

Yuri Dikov doubted that Kudryavtseva really needed emergency surgery.

“Most often, implant rupture does not cause any complaints. A person may not feel the defect at all and live calmly with it - this is usually found out by studying the results of an MRI or ultrasound. In this case, the surgeon recommends not urgently, but routinely changing the implants or removing them. Most likely, this operation was expected and planned,” the specialist suggests.

Yuri was also surprised how Lera’s doctors could not notice the damage to the implant for so long - especially considering that they examined the star every year, as Kudryavtseva herself assures.

“During an ultrasound, the implant shell is very clearly visible, and if there is a defect, it will immediately become noticeable,” the plastic surgeon is confident.

No need to panic

In her candid post, Lera said that she had implants installed from the premium American brand McGhan. “All implants used in Russia are filled with silicone gel, including McGhan.

This means that even if you cut this implant in half, nothing will flow out of it - after all, it is not a liquid,” explains Yuri. The specialist does not deny that implants 15 years ago may be slightly different from those used today.

However, even in those days, products were filled with gel - Russian doctors were not used to experimenting in this area.

“In the USA, for example, a different type of implant is used, inside of which there is ordinary saline solution. If they are damaged, the liquid will begin to spread throughout the body without causing any harm to it. The only unpleasant thing is that the breasts will quickly lose their volume. As you understand, the patient will immediately notice this,” says Dikov.

The contents of the damaged implant could hardly have greatly affected Kudryavtseva’s well-being.

“About a year after the operation, a collagen capsule is formed around the implant - simply put, its protective shell. Therefore, in the worst case, the gel will fall into this capsule and will not spread further.

Sometimes an implant that leaks in this way causes discomfort: redness of the skin, lumps, pain.

But in the overwhelming majority of cases, patients do not feel anything - doctors discover this,” says Dmitry Melnikov.

What is Breast Implant Disease?

Also in the microblog, Kudryavtseva wrote that she was preparing to tell the public about the so-called “breast implant disease.” It is quite possible that in this way the star wanted to hint that she suffered from her.

For the first time, this “disease” became known to a wide circle of the public only in the summer of 2019. Then the well-known implant manufacturer Allergan began to recall its products due to the occurrence of lymphoma in some patients - an aggressive form of breast cancer when liquid begins to accumulate in the capsule for no apparent reason.

Over the past year, about 600 cases of this type of tumor in patients with enlarged breasts have been reported worldwide - 12 of them died.

“It is worth understanding that such statistics, although sad, are very insignificant in relation to the whole world: and in Russia, no cases of lymphoma after plastic surgery were recorded at all. Besides, I don’t quite understand what Lera’s case has to do with it.

If you believe information from the microblog and media reports, Kudryavtseva has a banal implant rupture, which is in no way connected with neoplasms. Also, with lymphoma, the patient develops immunodeficiency symptoms, such as inflammation or a rash.

It’s difficult to judge what exactly happened to the star, so we can only wait for her detailed comments on this matter,” says Ilya Sergeev, founder of the Doctor Plastic clinic.

But Dmitry Melnikov heard about “breast implant disease” in a slightly different way - sometimes not only lymphoma is called this way. “We can say that this “disease” was invented on social networks, where certain problems related to plastic surgery are often discussed.

Strictly speaking, official medicine does not use this term. But according to the logic of patients, it is clear that this means a set of unpleasant symptoms after unsuccessful mammoplasty.

Symptoms can be different: fatigue and frequent headaches, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety, hair loss and skin rashes,” the specialist is sure.

Requires sacrifices

Of course, with breast augmentation, you really don’t want to think about the fact that someday you will have to end up on the operating table again or even develop some kind of disease. Therefore, implant manufacturers are trying to make products that will not let their owner down either in a year or in 20 or 30 years.

“Often when implants are installed, they are given a lifetime guarantee. But this only means that if any problems arise, the patient is obliged to provide new ones free of charge and perform the operation at the clinic’s expense.

Damage to implants is quite possible - unless, of course, we are talking about a serious injury, a stab wound, strong compression or a poorly performed operation. Moreover, even among the authoritative ones.

But in general, the risk of such situations occurring is estimated at only 1.5-3 percent of the total mass,” explains Melnikov.

Unfortunately, at the moment, no method of bust enlargement has been developed that would not have even the slightest drawbacks.

“Some people are scared that they will have a foreign object in their body for decades. But this should be treated normally: in plastic surgery there are no direct indications for replacing implants after 5, 10, 15 or more years.

In addition, there are currently no adequate alternatives to silicone implants. Of course, there are procedures for bust enlargement using fat tissue and fillers, and correction techniques with mesothreads.

But all this gives a temporary and unpredictable effect,” shares Yuri Dikov.

Somewhat earlier, polyacrylamide gel was used in aesthetic medicine, due to which lips, buttocks, and breasts were enlarged. “As far as I know, many years ago Lera resorted to such a procedure, although she did not mention it. But now gels are officially prohibited due to the high risk of inflammation and complications,” says Yuri.

In safety

Surely, after studying the problem of implant damage, the main question for many will be how they can be avoided - unless, of course, we are talking about emergency traumatic situations.

For the first few months after plastic surgery, women should not exercise or lift weights - loads aimed at the upper body can negatively affect the healing of sutures.

In general, experts assure that to take care of the health of silicone breasts, just regular visits to your doctor are enough.

“Each patient after surgery receives individual recommendations on the further regimen. There are no special restrictions; the most important thing is to visit the surgeon 3, 6 and 12 months after installation of the implants. Then you should come to him at least once every three years (and preferably annually)

or when unpleasant sensations appear in the chest area,” advises Dmitry Melnikov.

In addition, every year after surgery, an ultrasound of the mammary glands should be performed, and its results should be shown to your specialist so that he understands whether everything is in order with the breasts and implants. “The doctor will determine all other appointments and tests, if necessary, after examining the ultrasound image, if he notices any complications,” explains Yuri Dikov.

We hope that reputable plastic surgeons managed to dispel some fears and groundless rumors regarding breast implants and mammoplasty in general.

We also really believe that Lera Kudryavtseva will soon get in touch with fans and report positive news about her health. In the meantime, we continue to closely monitor the situation.

December 25, 2020 · Alexandra Borisova · @leratv/Instagram, Getty Images

Source: https://www.woman.ru/beauty/plastic/article/235077/

Preventive measures

To minimize the risk of possible complications, you will first need to take a responsible approach to choosing a plastic surgeon.

The specialist must have the appropriate qualifications, have a diploma and certificates confirming regular training.

This will eliminate problems that most often arise due to incorrect actions by the doctor during mammoplasty.

What can be done for prevention:

• wear shapewear for the entire recommended time (1-3 months);
• reduce physical activity to a minimum;
• do not lift heavy objects;
• carefully treat the seam and chest area with antiseptic agents;
• do not injure the mammary glands;
• regularly visit a doctor until the tissues are completely healed;
• During the entire rehabilitation period you should not drink alcohol or smoke;
• Take antibacterial agents after surgery as prescribed by the doctor.

With the right actions during the rehabilitation period after mammoplasty, most serious complications can be avoided.

Of course, some problems may arise due to the individual characteristics of the body. But a good doctor will definitely warn about all possible troubles, based on the medical history of a particular patient.

The video provides additional information on the topic of the article.

Any breast surgery carries a certain risk. Many nerve endings are concentrated in this area: there are both muscles and gland tissue, ducts and ligaments. Whatever the purpose of the surgical procedure, it is worth considering possible complications. The most common ones are known to almost everyone, but rare side effects should also not be forgotten.

Causes of breast implant rupture

There are many reasons for implant rupture. Underfilled saline implant

. A saline implant that is filled below the manufacturer's recommended minimum level is more susceptible to rupture due to friction caused by incomplete filling of the folds.

Excessive overfilling of the saline implant

. Overfilling beyond the manufacturer's recommended maximum level puts you at risk of implant rupture. The manufacturer has the right to waive any warranty claims related to ruptures caused by overfilling.

Pressure from the compressed capsule can cause the saline or silicone implant to rupture.

Pressure during mammography

. Pressure from the flat plate and support blade (parallel plate) used during mammography can cause the implant above the muscle to rupture. Surgical error: A scalpel or other surgical instruments may puncture the implant.

Valve failure (applies to saline implants only)

. Unlike silicone, saline breast implants are filled through a tube after they are inserted into the breast. If the valve is not installed correctly or is faulty, the saline solution will leak over time.

Common Complications

The most common general surgical complications are:

• hematoma;
• seroma;
• scar formation.

Hematoma

is dangerous if blood gets into the surgical pocket near the implant. If the accumulation is localized next to it, intervention is not required. To prevent the formation of such hematomas, it is important to prepare the cardiovascular system and blood coagulation system for surgery in advance, as well as follow a number of rules during the operation.

Seroma

often occurs in two cases: if the patient has problems with the lymphatic system or if the doctor made a mistake and did not perform the procedure very well. The accumulation of serous fluid is drained, but in some cases also does not require additional treatment.

Infection

is one of the main dangers that await a surgeon’s patients.
The development of inflammation can be life-threatening. As a rule, such a complication becomes a consequence of medical negligence or non-compliance with hygiene and dressings after surgery and discharge from a medical institution. A similar complication is skin necrosis
, which can occur either due to infection or due to a violation of the blood supply to the tissue area. This phenomenon may be caused by too much weight of the dentures. Also, in some cases, after surgery, numbness may be observed, which can last for several weeks or months, but then disappears without a trace, in this case we cannot talk about complications, this is a possible variant of the postoperative course.

Keloid scars

not so dangerous, but this is a serious aesthetic defect that is not easy to eliminate.
Their appearance is associated with the characteristics of the skin and tissue healing mechanisms. It is very important to tell your doctor about scarring problems in advance so that you can choose the best method for performing surgery on such an important area of ​​the body as the breasts.
In this case, healing Cure without visible consequences is possible in the early stages of keloid development.

Possible complications

As a rule, the initial recovery after mammoplasty takes 1-2 weeks. During this period, the acute pain usually goes away, stitches are removed if necessary, and you can go to work and gradually return to a normal lifestyle. Swelling can persist for 2-3 weeks, during which time bruises almost completely disappear and small hematomas that have formed resolve. After about a month, the breasts take on a normal appearance. If recovery occurs outside of these deadlines, we can talk about the appearance of complications. The most common problems are:

Just 10 years ago, there was a high risk of complications such as rupture of silicone implants or leakage of saline implants. Modern high-tech materials used for their manufacture reduce the likelihood of damage to almost zero. They have several high-strength elastic shells, and the gel structure resembles the consistency of marmalade and does not have fluidity.

Rare complications

Complications related directly to implants are much less common. Implant displacement

It is not too rare, but mostly when referring to surgeons with low qualifications.
This phenomenon is associated with improper strengthening of the inframammary fold structure. Asymmetry
is as common as misalignment. This is a clear sign of a specialist error. The occurrence of such an effect may be associated with improper healing, as well as damage to the implants, so the patient should carefully monitor the changes occurring after the operation.

Violation of shell integrity

and its rupture are the rarest complications. They are associated with the low quality of the products themselves. In rare cases, such situations arise due to medical errors. The rupture can lead to visual defects and may remain undetected for many months. This situation does not pose a threat to life and health, since the gel inside is not fluid and looks like marmalade. But in some cases, rupture of the membrane can lead to chronic inflammation and, as a consequence, capsular contracture. In this situation, a planned replacement of the implant is required.

Breast implant deflation

, that is, leakage of its contents is unlikely today and is extremely rare; flowable gels are not used today to fill implants. Such complications are most typical for operations using implants filled with saline solutions. If the integrity of such implants is compromised, the saline solution is simply absorbed by the body without any harm.

An even rarer type of complication is extrusion

installed prosthesis. In fact, the capsule falls out through the open wound. Only 0.1 percent of women undergoing surgery encountered this problem, and most of them had extremely large implants installed.

is a complication that is almost impossible to prevent in advance or predict. It is excessive scarring of the internal tissues around the implant, forming a hard “pocket” that deforms the breast, changes its structure and even deforms the prosthesis. Only a repeat operation can correct the situation. But, fortunately, such complications are rare.

Difficulty breastfeeding

After implantation, at the current level of development, plastic surgery is rare. The chance of irreversible changes increases only if the nipple has been manipulated. This is sometimes necessary with an inverted nipple. But this procedure partially damages the ducts and is therefore performed strictly for women who have already completed breastfeeding and are no longer planning pregnancy.

The desire for ideal forms is natural for any woman. When what nature has given is not enough, and physical exercises, cosmetic procedures and other methods are ineffective, mammoplasty and other achievements of plastic surgery come to the rescue.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgeries, which allows you to give the bust the desired volume and give a woman self-confidence. Quite often, immediately after the procedure, the implants are located above the natural level. This unpleasant temporary effect usually occurs after submuscular placement of silicone inserts. But by the end of the postoperative period, the bust should “sit” in place. It usually takes four to six months for the breasts to return to their normal position. During this time, the pectoral muscles relax, the implant lowers, the lower part of the mammary gland acquires natural roundness, and the upper pole loses its unnatural fullness.

Negative consequences of breast implants (what surgeons are silent about)

What woman doesn't dream of perfect breasts?
Only those who have it by nature, and there are only a few such lucky ones. The rest have to resign themselves to admiring the gorgeous busts of models in magazines or resort to the services of plastic surgeons. It seems that everything is simple - I chose a shape, lay down on the table, closed my eyes and woke up as a gorgeous woman.

But... before each operation, surgeons give you a paper to sign about possible risks and complications, although they may, of course, hide part of the truth from you, because the operation is not cheap and you may change your mind.

But you yourself must evaluate all the pros and cons carefully and with a cool head, because implants also have negative sides.

Complications during surgery

With breast augmentation, every tenth operation has complications, and this is a large percentage for surgery; of these ten, every tenth woman has to go under the knife again and correct what she has done, sometimes even to the point of amputation of the breast. Moreover, these repeated operations last for up to six months, which will not add beauty to you

. The success of the operation depends on the experience of the surgeon, and he is unlikely to admit to you that you are one of his first.

Problems with the implant

Often, an incorrect axillary incision results in asymmetrical installation of breast prostheses. The implant then moves under the influence of muscle force upward and towards the armpit. This can be corrected by having a second operation with another doctor.

Another problem can be a duplicated bulge on the breast if the surgeon does not take into account the sagging and softness of the skin and breast tissue. If the implant is placed under the muscle, it will be unsightly - the breast will be lumpy; in such cases, a repeat operation is performed, moving the implant and installing it above the muscle.

Another trouble after surgery - in addition to the stitches themselves, of course - may be loss of sensitivity in the nipple and areola. Its recovery can take up to six months or more, and sometimes, if the prosthesis pinches a branch of the intercostal nerve, sensitivity may not be restored at all.

Seromas and hematomas

These are accumulations of ichor or blood in the area between the dentures and body tissues. They do not become infected, but create discomfort and protrusions in the area of ​​the surgical suture and wound, and can temporarily distort the outline of the breast.

Seromas

are formed in response to tissue injury by surgery and the introduction of a foreign body; blood plasma and lymph, blood elements - lymphocytes and leukocytes - accumulate in the tissues. A protrusion appears in the area of ​​the operation, similar to a hernia.

Hematoma

– this is an accumulation of blood around the implant from a vessel injured during surgery. Sometimes, with large hematomas, it is necessary to remove the blood to stop the bleeding.

The most dangerous

Of course, operations are carried out in compliance with all rules of sterility, but it is impossible to achieve one hundred percent sterility during an operation. Therefore, there is always a risk of infection during operations, including when implants are inserted. If an infection forms around the prosthesis, even antibiotics will not help, and you will have to remove it. Complications of infection should be treated in a surgical hospital.

Repeated surgery is possible no earlier than six months later, then a new implant can be placed. And for six months you will have to walk around with one large breast and the other small - infection is rarely bilateral. Many women usually refuse a second prosthesis so as not to experience discomfort.

Negative effects of breast implants

Infection can develop either immediately after surgery or within two months after surgery; the chances are especially high in women with diabetes and chronic diseases.

Breast-feeding

In principle, if the implant is placed correctly, prostheses cannot in any way affect breastfeeding

. With access that touches the areola and nipple, this always interferes with feeding. If you plan to breastfeed in the future, discuss this with your surgeon in advance.

Injuries and deformations of the implant

Typically, old implants that have a thin wall, a defect in the production of the prosthesis, and also in those patients who were damaged during surgery are subject to rupture. Implants also rupture due to compression and trauma.

When the contents of the implant leak into the breast tissue, inflammation and pain begin, and the breast becomes unpleasant to touch. Such situations require removal of the implant and fluid from the breast tissue. However, if the implant is gel, even when the shell is damaged, it retains its shape.

Breast examination

breast cancer increases significantly.

, because a foreign body is placed in it.

In addition, the presence of implants interferes with examination and self-examination of the breast for lumps. Implants make it difficult to perform ultrasound, x-ray or mammography of the breast, which will delay the diagnosis of the tumor.

During examinations, pressure is required - this increases the risk of ruptures in the implant area.

Negative effects of breast implants

For timely diagnosis of violations of the integrity of prostheses, a woman should undergo regular examinations - especially if she has been wearing implants for more than 10 years. The most accurate, but very expensive method of examining implants is magnetic resonance imaging.

, everything will be visible on it.

capsular contracture may form.

– the elasticity of the breast and its shape changes. The breasts become dense, hard and small, which requires dissection of the capsule and replacement of implants.

***

Wearing breast implants is not such a simple and safe activity; this operation has a lot of complications. Before you decide on it, think about whether your life and health are worth such experiments. By the way, very often after surgery, dissatisfaction with the shape of the breast

only intensifies - the expectations of the ideal are not met.

Source: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5d0f708ab34feb00af5df861/5d0f7b83a346fd00affa77ff

Unsynchronous lowering of implants

It is quite unpleasant for a woman to later discover that she looks asymmetrical, since one of the implants turned out to be higher than the neighboring one. This occurs when the silicone insert on the dominant side is lowered more slowly. This is observed due to the more pronounced volume of the pectoral muscles on the corresponding side in “left-handed” and “right-handed” people. The problem resolves itself during the first few months of the postoperative period.

Unnatural placement of the bust and excessive volume become even more noticeable due to swelling after surgery, especially pronounced when the surgeon places the implant submuscularly.

Types of silicone implant ruptures

There are different gaps. With an intracapsular rupture, the silicone gel remains in the scar capsule, despite the small rupture. It is also known as a "silent" break. With an extracapsular rupture, the capsule is damaged. It is not widespread, because... usually caused by chest trauma.

With an extracapsular rupture, the shape of the breast looks different. A noticeable lump may appear or you may feel a small lump. There may also be a burning sensation, softness, or the area may become slightly numb. In most cases of rupture of silicone implants, the capsule remains intact and the silicone does not enter parts of the body. For this reason, you may not know about an implant rupture for several years.

How to speed up the process?

To ensure that the implants fall into place as quickly as possible, surgeons recommend using a relaxing massage and exercises. Light pressure on the pectoral muscle along the edges of the implant is especially helpful, but care must be taken to ensure that the silicone insert does not move. You can perform massage movements three to four times a day during the first month of rehabilitation.

Wearing compression garments helps to quickly normalize blood circulation and eliminate swelling, which helps implants heal in the desired position.

Compression underwear helps your bust fall into place faster thanks to two fasteners. One of them is located under the chest, the second - above. The top clasp can be moved to the back to reduce pressure on the silicone insert.

For the entire rehabilitation period, you should forget about bras with push-up or hard wires, which interfere with the normal healing of the stitches and the lowering of the breasts to their proper place.

Mammoplasty with surgical installation of implants is the most effective method of breast correction. But do not forget that with any surgical intervention there is a possibility of complications. Each operation requires the attention of specialists in the postoperative period and monitoring of the patient’s condition.

Common indications for breast implantation, changes in their size and shape are: previous cancer with removal of the mammary gland, loss of shape after lactation or weight loss, congenital or acquired asymmetry.

Read in this article

The gap has been identified. What's next?

If the implant ruptures, it is removed surgically. In most cases, the implant is replaced in the same operation. But first, the surgeon needs to check for the presence or absence of infection. If there is an infection, you must wait a while before inserting a new implant. Inserting an implant while there is an infection can lead to infection of the new implant and complications such as capsular contracture. The waiting period is usually 2-3 months depending on your health condition and the surgeon's recommendations.

Publications on the topic:

• Consequences of overfilling or under...

Well, here is another victim of plastic surgery - Irene Ferarri, who enlarged her breasts to size 9, recently almost died due to rupture of implants. While flying from Moscow to Los Angeles, her chest burst.

An unpleasant incident happened on June 13. While landing a plane flying from Moscow to Los Angeles, a passenger's silicone breast burst. She couldn't take even a few steps towards the check-in point before she collapsed on the airport floor. The employees called an ambulance. The woman was hospitalized. They operated on. And they strictly forbade sunbathing on the beaches and prescribed bed rest. The girl was also advised to part with her size 9 wealth, because there is a high probability of a similar incident happening again. And this can lead to more dire consequences.

We contacted Irene Ferrari:

Even before the flight, I had chest discomfort on the right side. The temperature increased slightly, but I did not pay attention, attributing the malaise to fatigue. The day before, I spent many hours in the gym.

— What were your first sensations?

“Already in flight, I realized that something was wrong with my breasts.” She began to shrink in size and ached a little. I immediately guessed that the implant had ruptured. Later it turned out that the culprit was a factory defect of the implant. It began to leak, and during the flight to New York, the process of saline leaking out accelerated. Please note that saline solution is simply salt water, absolutely safe for the body.

— Did the doctors arrive on time?

“As soon as the plane landed, I was hospitalized in one of the clinics. They sent me for an examination, after which the old implants were removed and an operation was performed to install new ones, and also of a much larger size. Operation was successfully completed. For several hours, America's best surgeon worked on the breast. His list of patients includes Pamela Anderson, Demi Moore, and many society ladies from Rublyovka.

— Are there any scars left?

— After any such operation, scars remain under the breasts. Large implants cannot be inserted any other way. But the scars are almost invisible - their length is about 1 cm, and after a year they will completely disappear.

- Maybe it’s easier to give up such large breasts?

My new breasts are much larger than the previous ones and more beautiful. True, it’s a little heavier, but I’m already used to it. So I’m celebrating my 25th birthday with new breasts! I love her and will not part with her for anything. If necessary, I will go under the surgeon’s knife again, as long as it is in place! Now I am not on bed rest, I normally hang out in a special bra that supports my breasts. I’ve been through so much and now I don’t intend to give up such wealth so easily! After all, I once had no breasts at all. The first time I had my breasts enlarged to size 2.5. Six months later, I got the biggest implants that exist. “It's a risk!” - they warned me. I took this risk consciously. But tissue rupture could occur. The skin could not stand it, because huge cans of saline were placed in the chest. The doctors said: I was lucky that there was no crisis. In addition to the chest, I made a waist - I removed the ribs, pumped up my butt with silicone, corrected my nose, and enlarged my lips. It's very painful, but I make such sacrifices to please men. There are dozens of transactions on my account. Moreover, I don’t feel any inconvenience. I can't feel my breasts. Like a new pair of shoes, I put them on and went.

— Will you sue the doctors who installed low-quality implants?

“I wanted to sue a doctor from a French clinic who installed a defective implant for me. But he offered me a very large compensation. And I couldn't refuse. But in Russia it is impossible to bring doctors to court for something like this. My friend’s implant also burst during the flight. She began to fester, and the girl fell into a coma. The reason is a manufacturing defect. The operation was performed on her by one of the most famous plastic surgeons in Moscow. She failed to prove anything. The situation abroad is different. I’m even embarrassed to name the amount that was offered to me by the French doctor. She is so indecently tall!

- But the consequences could have been much worse?

The consequences could be severe if the chest became infected. In general, any breast implant, regardless of size, is a risk.

Video Contacts

As for silicone, it all depends on its type. Old mixtures can flow and affect muscles and lymph nodes, modern jelly-like ones remain in place.

In any case, when a rupture occurs, scar tissue can form - capsular contracture, which leads to the appearance of compactions, breast deformation, and asymmetry.

Symptoms of implant rupture

In most cases, implant rupture occurs asymptomatically, and the woman herself may not be aware of it until a specialized examination. However, often the signs of rupture are quite obvious:

• pain, especially when it comes to saline leakage;
• change in breast shape, from sagging and reduction (if the implant with saline solution is damaged) to the appearance of obvious external signs such as asymmetry;
• the appearance of tubercles, lumps and other neoplasms on palpation;
• the ability to feel the edge of the implant when touched;
• changes while maintaining shape and size, such as loss of contour, new outlines.

How to Identify Breast Implant Damage

In many cases, only a doctor can determine damage to the implant. That is why women after prosthetics are recommended to undergo an examination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner or an ultrasound examination approximately once every two years.

Sometimes a woman herself understands that damage has occurred, as she observes a change in the shape of her breasts and experiences discomfort. In this case, you should immediately go to the doctor, who will conduct a full examination and prescribe surgery to remove the prosthesis, evacuate the spilled contents and install a new implant.

Consequences after implant rupture:

• Local effects
  that do not have a major impact and are easy to manage. This happens if the contents of the prosthesis remained inside the fibrous capsule, or it was a biocompatible gel that is excreted naturally without harm to the body.
• Regional consequences
  associated with the penetration of the contents of the prosthesis beyond the formed pocket. Gel that penetrates muscle tissue, lymph nodes and nerves of the arms and armpits can cause irritation and discomfort, as well as the formation of scar tissue at the points of penetration.

What to do if an implant ruptures?

If you suspect damage to the implant, you should immediately consult a doctor. Most often, the consequences can be dealt with without harm. The damaged implant is removed, the leaked contents are evacuated, if necessary, scar tissue is excised, and then a new prosthesis is installed. It should be noted that the risk of such damage is significantly reduced if you use modern materials and perform breast augmentation surgery in our clinic by professionals with extensive experience. A good operating doctor is a guarantee that you will never encounter such problems and will enjoy beautiful, ideally shaped breasts.

The information on the site was personally verified by plastic surgeon Maxim Aleksandrovich Osin; if you have any additional questions, call the phone number listed on the site.

Usually, many patients of plastic surgeons diligently ignore the topic of complications after surgery to correct the shape and volume of the breast, so as not to get upset. Plastic surgeons themselves are also in no hurry to talk about possible adverse consequences, limiting themselves to only noting that a positive attitude helps to survive the operation and rehabilitation period without problems.

A positive attitude is actually great. But it is better if it is combined with knowledge about what problems can arise with the operated breast, and what can be done to eliminate these problems.

Complications can arise after any breast surgery, but most often this concerns breast augmentation surgery with implants, since such patients are the majority of those who undergo breast surgery.

Conventionally, all complications can be divided into those that develop immediately after surgery, and those that appear after 1-2 months or even later.

What complications are possible after implant placement?

Despite patient concerns, complications are quite rare.

According to statistics, one of the safest operations is mammoplasty: complications develop only in 2-3% of cases.

All problems are then divided into general surgical and specific.

The first include:

• hematoma;
• seroma;
• development of inflammation;
• scar formation.

Specific complications are as follows:

• formation of contracture;
• decreased or loss of nipple sensitivity;
• deformation of the prosthesis;
• implant rupture.

For a complete picture of the mechanism of complications, it is worthwhile to dwell on each in more detail.

Capsular contracture

The development of connective tissue occurs around any foreign body in the body. A breast implant is no exception. The fibrous capsule becomes a problem when it begins to shrink around the implant and deform it.

Until now, the reasons for the formation of contracture are not known. It has been suggested that infection, regular physical activity, a tendency to form hypertrophic scars, or improper preparation of the implant before surgery may contribute to its development. But no one can still predict the body’s reaction.

In order to distinguish between normal and pathological cases of fibrous capsule formation, the Baker classification was created:

• 1st degree
  – the breast looks natural and feels soft to the touch;
• 2nd degree
  – the breasts look natural, the implants do not change shape, but feel firm to the touch;
• 3rd degree
  – a change in the shape of the breast becomes noticeable, the breast feels hard to the touch;
• 4th degree
  – the breast is deformed, heavy and very dense, sometimes painful.

For the first and second degrees, no correction is required. In the third degree, the capsule is surgically excised (capsulectomy is performed).

If capsular contracture of the fourth degree develops, the implant must be replaced or completely removed. The likelihood of contracture developing again is very high.

To prevent the development of capsular contracture, implants with a textured surface are used, breast massage courses are carried out, ultrasound therapy procedures are carried out, and vitamin E intake is recommended.

Typically, skin ripples are not static. It may appear or disappear depending on changes in body position or movement. It can have varying degrees of severity. Waves can be noticeable on the skin without clothing, or they can only be felt.

The appearance of skin ripples can be affected by:

• the condition of the patient’s skin, its elasticity, a sufficient layer of subcutaneous fat;
• shape and size of the implant;
• technique of the operation.

Most often, the “washboard effect” manifests itself in thin women with a small volume of their own breast. The larger the size of the prosthesis, the more likely the appearance of “waves” will be, especially if the width of the prosthesis is greater than the width of your own breast.

The manifestation of skin ripples is enhanced by saline implants, which are specially overfilled in order to avoid splashing and rolling of liquid inside the prosthesis. Soft gel dentures will create less ripples.

Implants with a textured surface create more ripples than smooth ones because they are held in place more tightly by tissue.

The risk of developing “waves” is lower when the implant is installed partially or completely under the muscle.

To eliminate skin ripples, you can:

• add volume around the implant using feeders such as Macroline or Alloderm;
• carry out lipofilling of the breast around the implant;
• replacing a saline implant with a gel one;
• transplantation of an implant under the muscle, if previously it was located between the muscle and the mammary gland;
• replacing the implant with a smaller one.

In fact, not everyone agrees to repeat surgery, especially to replace the implant with a smaller one, since skin ripples in most cases do not become a serious cosmetic problem.

General surgical complications

Hematoma

The formation of a hematoma after mammoplasty is possible as a result of the accumulation of blood near the implantation pocket, or directly in it.

The first case does not require any treatment; such a hematoma resolves on its own within a few days. The situation in which blood has spilled into the cavity of the pocket is more serious. In this case, drainage is performed to remove accumulated fluid.

To minimize the incidence of this complication in the preoperative period, it is important to carefully assess the state of the cardiovascular and coagulation systems of the body.

Seroma

The occurrence of seroma after mammoplasty is caused by damage to the lymphatic vessels in the area where the implant is installed. The volume of serous fluid spilled into the breast after mammoplasty may vary: a large volume requires puncture or drainage.

It should be mentioned that with the proper qualifications of the surgeon and his attentive attitude, a complication in the form of seroma does not arise.

Development of inflammation

The danger of infection arises when the rules of asepsis and antisepsis are not followed, or when the patient’s immunity is not sufficiently strengthened. Treatment of the inflammatory process, often manifested as wound suppuration, involves the use of antibacterial therapy. Patients with frequent infectious diseases or weak immunity are usually prescribed antibiotics in the postoperative period.

Scar formation

They try to predict the possibility of formation of scars and keloids in the postoperative period in advance; the predisposition to them is clarified when collecting an anamnesis. If the patient notices the habitual formation of scars after minor injuries, then the specialist is obliged to warn her about such a complication after the intervention. If a scar forms at the site of the surgical incision, laser or mechanical excision is used.

Prevention of complications

In most cases, the occurrence of postoperative complications is caused either by insufficient qualifications of the surgeon, or are due to the fault of the patient herself, who does not strictly comply with all the doctor’s instructions, especially at the initial stage of the rehabilitation period. The first days after surgery are the most important. They determine how quickly and successfully the rehabilitation will take place. Of course, I want to quickly return to my normal lifestyle. But it is better to put up with forced restrictions for a month than to spend a long and often painful time eliminating the consequences of your own negligence.

To prevent possible complications after mammoplasty, the following are strictly prohibited for at least a month after surgery:

• active sports;
• taking warm baths;
• visiting the sauna and solarium;
• exposure to the sun;
• heavy loads on the upper body.

It is also necessary to wear compression garments until your doctor allows you to replace them with regular ones. It is equally important to carefully follow the rules for treating sutures until they are completely healed.

If the patient’s glandular tissue is well developed, the surgeon will most likely install an implant under it. This is a more gentle method: the operation takes less time and rehabilitation is faster. However, it is worth noting that this method more often causes the development of capsular contracture. In addition, the prosthesis is palpable when palpated.

If the prosthesis is placed under the muscle, the risk of developing capsular disease is much lower. The operation is more difficult and takes longer. During rehabilitation, the patient will feel pain in the chest area.

Sometimes the doctor decides to place the implants under the muscle and partially under the gland.

The incision can be made in the area:

• armpits;
• pacifier;
• in the fold under the gland.

The incision under the armpit is suitable for installing prostheses either entirely or partially under the muscle. This incision is rarely used and is used only by the most experienced surgeons. The main advantage is that the scar is almost invisible. Most often, prostheses are installed through the area near the nipple and in the fold under the breast. The latter technique makes it possible to carry out intervention without problems if it is necessary to remove breast implants. A good doctor will be able to make the scar thin and almost invisible.

Specific complications

Contractures

The formation of contractures occupies a special place among the consequences of mammoplasty. It is quite rare. To form a contracture or fibrous ring around the implant, in the preoperative period and during the intervention, the following mistakes must be made:

• disproportionately large prosthesis;
• small implant pocket;
• inadequate hemostasis (stopping bleeding);
• predisposition of body tissues;
• incorrectly selected operational access;
• insufficient qualifications of the selected specialist.

Situations where replacement of a prosthesis is required due to the formation of a fibrous ring occur extremely rarely. More often, the contracture remains externally invisible and re-intervention is not required.

Loss of nipple sensation

A complication that is caused by damage to the nerve endings in the nipple or areola area. The frequency of occurrence is relatively low. It is important to distinguish true loss of sensitivity from false one. The latter is a temporary condition that occurs quite often and does not require any treatment.

Deformation of the prosthesis

Implant deformations primarily include its displacement in the implantation pocket. This may be due to insufficient qualifications of the surgeon performing the surgery. During manipulations, a specialist may lose sight of an important stage: strengthening the inframammary (submammary) fold. If such a mistake was made, then displacement of the implant after mammoplasty is inevitable.

Treatment of this complication consists of a repeat operation, which eliminates the above-described omission.

Implant rupture

The rarest. Manufacturers have made great strides in creating high-quality implants, reducing the number of ruptures to zero. In addition, the materials from which prosthetics are made today guarantee their complete stability, increasing the level of safety for women.

Implant rupture: concept, types, danger, effects, treatment

Modern implants are the result of painstaking work. Their use in plastic surgery has reached its maximum. Existing myths about the harm and fragility of implants are refuted by positive experience.

But the theory of probability has not been canceled: modern breast implants, brought to perfection, sometimes fail.

Concept

Implants are endoprostheses (usually silicone) that are used in mammoplasty. With their help, you can adjust the shape and add volume to your breasts. Modern implants provide preliminary modeling, which allows you to achieve good results later. They do not cause cancer, do not affect lactation, etc.

Implants are inserted surgically through small holes, leaving no scars after the operation. A small trace remains from the cut, which is only a thin light strip. Implants are installed for many years, or rather, for life.

Situations when an implant has to be replaced with a new one occur extremely rarely, the probability is 1% per year. This is caused solely by the quality of the endoprosthesis or serious injury.

High viscosity gel is the main filler of the implant. Viscosity prevents leakage from occurring. Modern fillers (such as cohesive gel) are endowed with shape memory.

Implants have different shapes (anatomical and round) and different surfaces (rough and smooth). All this allows you to select the appropriate implant for each individual case.

Textured implants are given greater preference (90%), but smooth ones are not scrapped. Modern manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on their products.

Types of products

Stages of implant development:

• Silicone bag filled with saline solution
• The structure of the shell changes,
• Filler changes
• The shape changes.

The beginning was made with implants that were filled with a solution of table salt. Their shell (the same as now) was made of silicone. The next stage was the use of implants with silicone filler.

Their production technology did not allow us to avoid a number of negative nuances.

But technology is developing and now silicone implants are the leading material in plastic surgery, preferred by plastic surgeons all over the world.

In addition to implants with silicone filler, bioimplants and implants with saline filler are used today. Bioimplants have both a number of advantages and a number of disadvantages. They are not very popular, although their use is the safest: if a bioimplant leaks, the saline solution it contains is completely absorbed by the tissues, without causing any harm to the body. TO

Each type of implant has its own characteristics. All the required parameters meet:

• Biocompatibility,
• Tightness and strength,
• Resistance to deformation and displacement,
• Durability.

McGhan, CUI, Mentor, Siltex - new generation implants. Allergan (USA) is the leading company in their production. Collaboration between manufacturers and plastic surgeons is of enormous importance.

Risk of implant rupture

All endoprostheses first undergo rigorous strength tests and quality checks. They are endowed with incredible strength. It is almost impossible to damage the implant mechanically. Nevertheless, this fact takes place. The cause of implant rupture may be serious injury or poor quality of the implant.

It is practically impossible to determine the gap immediately. This can be determined visually only in cases where bioimplants are installed. When silicone endoprostheses are installed, a series of tests are required to confirm the rupture: ultrasound, MRI, etc.

Capsular contracture (newly formed scar tissue), pain, and the appearance of dense nodules clearly indicate implant rupture. If you do not remove the ruptured implant, complications may occur: swelling, pain, inflammation, change in breast shape.

Troubleshooting

The problem can only be eliminated by removing the implant. The operation in this case will be more complicated than with its installation, since excision of the capsular contracture (capsule) may be required. The duration of the operation will be slightly longer than the initial one, as will the rehabilitation period after it.

Necessary tests and measures

Preparation in this case is a full preparation for plastic surgery:

• Preliminary consultation, when the doctor assesses the condition, makes a decision to solve the problem,
• Analysis of somatic diseases at the moment,
• Taking tests (biochemistry, OAC, OAM, etc.) is mandatory,
• ECG, fluorography;
• In case of inflammation, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment to eliminate it.

And only after careful preparation is the day of the operation scheduled.

Alcohol, smoking, taking aspirin and other blood thinning drugs are completely excluded before surgery.

The operation is performed under general anesthesia. Algorithm for its implementation:

1. Making a small incision (most often it coincides with the previous incision),
2. Removal of a damaged implant,
3. Removing leaked gel,
4. Excision of scar tissue, if necessary,
5. Installation of a new prosthesis.

Rehabilitation

Recovery from implant replacement surgery may take several months. During this period, visiting bathhouses, solariums, taking hot baths, etc. is completely prohibited. Activities during the recovery period:

• Wearing compression garments,
• Gymnastics and massage,
• Timely inspections.

Possibility of complications

Complications during surgery are just as likely as with similar procedures. What they include:

• Possibility of infection with suppuration,
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia,
• Formation of a hematoma or seroma in the incision area,
• Severe fibrosis
• Breast asymmetry,
• Re-formation of scar tissue (one of the most serious complications of the operation).

Removing implants in case of rupture - the topic of the video below:

Reviews

There are few reviews on this topic, since the problem occurs extremely rarely. They are all different: someone panics in such a situation and does not know where to run, someone is quite skeptical and does not panic.

Yes, so many people, so many stories. Everyone has the same advice: if you suspect an implant rupture, you should urgently consult a doctor.

Average prices

The price range for such an operation is very wide. For example, in Moscow, the average price for removing an implant is 86,000 rubles, the price for replacing an implant is 160,000 rubles. This price does not include the price of new implants; they will have to be paid separately. The cost of new implants ranges from 40 to 80 thousand rubles. The price range in Russia is as follows:

• Removal - from 9,000 to 280,000 rubles,
• Replacement - from 22,000 to 518,000 rubles.

The price of the operation is often determined by the status of the clinic. The complexity of the procedure is also of enormous importance. The operation is performed in plastic surgery centers in major cities of Russia.

Example of an MRI image of a ruptured implant

Source: https://gidmed.com/plasticheskaya-hirurgiya/provedenie/materialy-i-komponenty/razryv-implanta.html

What happens after a saline-filled implant shell ruptures?

Once the implant shell ruptures, the saline solution leaks into the body tissue, causing the breasts to shrink, lose aesthetic appeal, and return to their pre-surgical state. Complete emptying of the implant takes relatively little time, on average about 1 day. The saline solution is absolutely safe and its contact with soft tissues does not harm health.

Most often, implants that are not completely filled with saline solution rupture, since their shell is subject to constant wrinkling and folding, which can lead to chafing of the shell, i.e. mechanical damage.

Since the saline implant is filled with saline solution, its penetration into the surrounding tissues of the body does not cause any danger.

Implant leakage can usually be noticed immediately. Within a few hours, the breasts lose shape and volume. But there are cases when the implant leaks for several weeks or even months. The breasts in this case become asymmetrical gradually. If the implant leaks, it is replaced.

When is revision mammoplasty possible?

After the first breast surgery, almost every fifth patient needs to prepare for repeated operations. The need for a repeat operation lies in the following nuances:

1. Service life of implants . Manufacturers recommend replacing the implant every 10 years.
2. Incorrect assessment of breast size . Sometimes, fearing complications from a large implant, women choose a small implant. When the swelling goes away, they realize that they made a mistake with the size.
3. Breast lift . Breasts still sag with age, even with an implant. To lift their breasts, women have to undergo repeated surgery.
4. Capsular contracture . Repeated surgery is necessary due to the growth of scar tissue around the installed implant.

Repeated surgery is sometimes more difficult due to the likelihood of complications and a long rehabilitation period. Very often, women combine revision mammoplasty with a breast lift.

Typically, a second operation is performed 6 to 7 months after the first. As an exception, surgery may be performed earlier if there is an urgent medical indication.

Even more useful information on this topic is in the video below:

What consequences should you be prepared for after surgery?

Any surgery in the breast area can cause various complications. You need to be especially careful when performing surgery aimed at breast enlargement. Conventionally, doctors divide all complications into 2 groups:

• those that occur immediately after the procedure;
• those that appear after 1 – 2 months.

The video below will tell you what consequences after surgery you should be prepared for:

Lift or reduction?

If the breasts are sagging and a woman is no longer satisfied with their shape, a breast lift can be done. Doctors work only with the skin, and do not touch the gland tissues themselves. After a breast lift, the breasts retain their beautiful shape for quite a long time. And even breastfeeding, provided all conditions are met (compression garments and normal weight), does not particularly affect its shape.

However, this is an individual question: no one can promise that breasts will retain their shape forever after a lift. Repeat surgery may be required.

Reduction – breast reduction – is one of the most difficult operations in mammoplasty. Doctors recommend stopping breastfeeding after such an intervention. The fact is that during reduction, the doctor removes part of the glandular tissue, and the ducts may be damaged. The milk may arrive, but there will be nowhere for it to go, and this is fraught with serious complications, the doctor explains.

Reconstructive plastic surgery

The Altai Territory has a very high incidence of breast cancer. And women most often come to the surgeon without breasts, after a mastectomy.

According to statistics, about 30% of women with breast cancer have their breasts completely removed. 70% of patients manage to save it: they have the tumor removed at the same time and the mammary gland is reconstructed.

Often women turn to an oncologist already with the third or fourth stages of cancer, so there is nothing left but to completely remove the breast. Preservation of at least part of the mammary gland is possible only in the first or second stages of cancer.

In total, about 3% of the total number of operations are reconstructive plastic surgery (personal statistics of Olga Mishutkina).

Breast implant shell rupture

Breast enlargement surgery has its own characteristics, this is explained by the fact that augmentation mammoplasty uses auxiliary plastic means, such as implants. The presence of implants in the soft tissue of the breast carries specific risks. One of them is the possibility of rupture of the implant shell.

There are currently two types of silicone shell implants. The first and most popular ones use silicone gel as a filler. The latter use saline solution (water) as a filler and are now practically not used.

The shell of the silicone and saline implant consists of a soft and elastic material - silicone elastomer. Silicone elastomer is a durable multilayer structure containing up to 15 different layers.

Each of these layers has its own function. The most superficial layer serves to apply texture, while deeper layers perform a barrier function and give the shell the necessary strength, elasticity and stretchability. However, there may be hidden defects in the implant shell that can cause it to rupture over time or cause the implant filler to leak.

When the silicone shell passes a saline solution, the implant is said to be leaking. The solution flowing through the shell enters the surrounding tissue and quickly dissolves, and the implant itself shrinks, losing fluid volume.

As a rule, the rupture of a saline implant is noticeable immediately, since the solution flows out quite quickly and the breast decreases in volume. The leaked solution is completely safe for the body and is easily removed.

If the silicone gel leaks, the implant shell is said to have ruptured. The formation of capsular contracture may indirectly indicate implant rupture. Since the filler of silicone implants is a highly cohesive gel, which has sufficient viscosity and does not spread, damage to the implant is almost impossible to immediately notice. The leaked gel remains inside the capsule, and this can lead to the development of inflammation and the formation of capsular contracture.

Typically, in most women, a damaged shell or rupture of a silicone implant does not cause any symptoms. But for some, implant rupture may be accompanied by pain in the mammary gland, the formation of dense nodules in the gland, a decrease in breast size or deformation.

Damage in the form of ruptures was typical for second generation implants, i.e. developed in the 70-80s of the twentieth century. This was explained by the fact that older implant samples had a thinner shell, and the filler was liquid silicone gel, which easily leaked out when the shell ruptured.

There are several options for rupture of silicone implants filled with gel and saline: