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Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
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Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
She is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native stresses education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. She is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of several clinical trials evaluating new agents for the prevention of breast cancer and identification of biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Her other research and clinical interests include managing the health of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain and hot flashes, and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns. She is director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and is a member of the Women's Health Executive Committee. Dr. Pruthi has been newly elected as a member to the board of directors for the American Society of Breast Disease. She has assisted with a variety of articles for MayoClinic.com.
"Having an opportunity to share information with my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," she says.
"The Web has become a major information site for people, and I want them to get the best and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
Women's health (2)
- Lead in lipstick: A health concern?
- Birth control pills for acne?
Breast health (3)
- Sagging breasts: Inevitable after breast-feeding?
- Silicone breast implants: What happens if they rupture?
- Natural breast enhancement: Does it work?
Women's sexual health (10)
- Cosmetic vaginoplasty: Is it safe?
- Birth control: Can pre-ejaculation fluid cause pregnancy?
- Morning-after pill: Emergency birth control
- see all in Women's sexual health
Women's life stages (2)
- Menstrual cup: What is it?
- Asthma: Why are symptoms worse during my period?
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Question
Silicone breast implants: What happens if they rupture?
If silicone breast implants rupture, what are the possible complications?
Answer
from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
The major problem associated with ruptured silicone breast implants is the formation of scar tissue in the breast. If the rupture isn't addressed, the scar tissue can lead to pain and changes in the contour or shape of the breast. However, there's no scientific evidence that ruptured silicone breast implants cause serious, long-term health problems — such as breast cancer or connective tissue diseases.
When a breast implant is placed in your body, a fibrous capsule of scar tissue typically forms around the implant. If a silicone breast implant ruptures, the leaking silicone gel may cause inflammation of the fibrous capsule and the formation of additional scar tissue. The result may be a hard capsule around the breast implant that may distort the shape of your breast and cause pain or discomfort.
Most women have no signs or symptoms when a silicone breast implant ruptures. However, some women may experience:
- Pain, burning, tingling, swelling, numbness or redness in the affected breast
- Hard knots or lumps surrounding the implant or in the armpit
- Change in breast size or distorted breast shape
- Softening or hardening of the breast
If you have silicone breast implants and experience these signs or symptoms, consult your doctor. Rupture of a silicone breast implant can be confirmed by mammogram, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI of the breast. Treatment may include surgical removal of the implant and scar tissue and, possibly, insertion of a replacement breast implant. If you decide you don't want breast implants any longer, you may need a breast lift.
Keep in mind that silicone breast implants aren't guaranteed to last a lifetime. Your doctor may begin monitoring your silicone breast implants with routine MRI scans after the breast implants have been in place for three years. If an MRI scan detects an implant rupture but you don't experience any signs or symptoms, it may be up to you to weigh the risks and benefits of keeping the implant or having it removed. Consult your doctor for advice.
Next questionNatural breast enhancement: Does it work?
- McCarthy CM, et al. Silicone breast implants and magnetic resonance imaging screening for rupture: Do U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendations reflect and evidence-based practice approach to patient care? Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2008;121:1127.
- Gorczyca DP, et al. The diagnosis of silicone breast implant rupture. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2007;120:49.
- Holmich LR, et al. Breast implant rupture and connective tissue disease: A review of the literature. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2007;120:62.
- McLaughlin JK, et al. The safety of silicone gel-filled implants. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2007;59:569.
- Holmich LR, et al. Untreated silicone breast implant rupture. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2004;114:204.
- FDA approves silicone gel-filled breast implants after in-depth evaluation. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/ucm108790.htm. Accessed Aug. 5, 2009.
- Important facts about breast augmentation risks and complications. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Patients_and_Consumers/Procedures/Cosmetic_Procedures/Breast_Augmentation.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2009.
- Silicone breast implant study and breast cancer risk. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/silicone-implant. Accessed Aug. 5, 2009.
- Slavin SA, et al. Augmentation mammoplasty and its complications. In: Thorne CH, et al. Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007:576.
- Breast implants questions and answers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm063719.htm#9. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 13, 2009.
- Walsh MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 20, 1009.
