First of all, call Dr. Hess right away!
Breast implants are often covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, so replacement cost may be lower than expected. While it poses no danger to the patient, a ruptured saline implant will definitely look and feel strange. If you have silicone implants, problems can only be diagnosed by MRI.
Although it’s far from being a common occurrence, implant deflation can happen for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the problems occur because implants are filled beyond (or below) the fill range specified by the manufacturer. Other times, texturing of a saline implant results in excessive wrinkling and premature wear, causing the implant to fail. For many who experience breast implant deflation, the cause may be as simple as regular wear and tear.
A deflated implant can be successfully removed and replaced in a surgical procedure similar to the original
breast augmentation. Usually the same breast augmentation incision is used to approach the deflated implant.
This all might sound like a major hassle, but the good news is that recovery from breast implant repair surgery is usually easier than the original surgery, since the pectoralis muscle has already been stretched.
