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Breast implant illness (BII) is a condition that has gained more attention over the past several years and is being actively studied. 

If you have a capsular contracture, what should you do? First, don’t panic.  Take your time and explore your options.

Breasts should feel natural after implant placement. If they are abnormally firm this could be a sign of capsular contracture.  Think of this as internal scarring which occurs in the collagen capsule that lines the pocket containing the implant.

So who pays for all this?  The cost of implant surgery may be partially or completely offset if they leak or you develop a capsular contracture requiring correction because of implant warranties.  These have changed over the years but have generally become more generous.  If you’re not having problems but simply need a “tune up” (size change, breast lift, etc.) then the warranties won’t apply. 

If an intact silicone implant needs to be removed or replaced and has not leaked the procedure is straightforward and similar to saline implant removal.  Using existing incisions the implant(s) can be removed, the pocket inspected, the capsule evaluated and the incisions closed again.   It’s a quick outpatient procedure with a short recovery time.

Today’s implants are more have a more durable outer shell, have a more cohesive (“gummier”) silicone gel inside, and don’t fail as often as the older ones.  Still, any device placed in the body is subject to wear and tear over the years and can fail. 

Saline implants have been used for over 50 years, but saw their greatest use from the early 90’s to 2007, when silicone implants were largely unavailable. 

We see a number of patients in our office who are considering breast implant removal, revision, or replacement for a variety of reasons.  The most common reason is the patient has physically changed since their implants were placed many years ago (we all do)!