Dow Corning Ruptured Gel Implant

Posted On: November 22, 2011 Author: The Office of Dr. Stuart Linder Posted In: Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Breast Revision, Home

DOW CORNING RUPTURED

CASE 2

The above patient presents with silicone gel implants placed 34 years ago.  These are ruptured silicone gel implants that had been placed over one-third of a century ago.  The patient left the implants in and has now noticed increasing pain.  An MRI shows intra and extracapsular ruptured silicone implant and implant material.  She has undergone open periprosthetic capsulectomy, removal of calcified granulomas, silicone calcifications, ruptured silicone gel implant material and subsequently reconstruction with new high profile style 20 Allergan silicone gel implants.  Notice the calcification and hardness of this tissue.  Over years the silicone will calcify with the collagen and create a thickened, hard scar ball, almost the consistency of chalk.  The patient has also developed calcified granulomas with small circumscribed areas of silicone which have become loculated in the tissue.

Notice the hardness of the breasts preoperatively, associated with this thickened calcified scar ball.  The implant shell has pretty much deteriorated as can be seen on this photograph of the ruptured loose gel material being pulled out of the breast.

Patients who have Dow Corning implants should have them removed as soon as possible.  The tendency for them to rupture within originally 10 years was very high and it is unlikely that any of these implants are intact in any women throughout the world.