Breast Augmentation with Silicone Gel implants. Monitoring with MRI / Ultrasound*

This 47-year-old woman lost volume in her breasts after childbirth. She wanted to have restoration of the fullness that she had before pregnancy. She decided upon silicone gel implants. She underwent bilateral submuscular placement of Allergan smooth 335cc implants. She was very pleased with her full C cup breasts and enjoys a wider array of clothing and bathing suits. All implants have known failure rates. None are expected to last a lifetime. The newer generations of gel implants have been made better than those manufactured in the 1980s but still have a known failure or leakage rate. Rupture rates in the first 5- 6 years for all manufacturers is very low (usually less than 2%) but by 10 years, rupture rates range between 9% to 17% depending on the implant type, manufacturer and reason for placement (augmentation vs reconstruction or revision) The majority of ruptures are felt to be silent (or asymptomatic) and found during routine testing such as US, MRI or even mammograms. The FDA updated their recommendation of MRI screening for silicone gel implant rupture to begin between year 5- and 6-years post implantation and every 2- 3 years thereafter. This means you would have had 2-3 MRIs by ten years. Unfortunately, most insurance companies don't cover MRI for routine screening and the cost of an MRI can be prohibitive. Ultrasound is cheaper, but not as accurate. It is important to keep regular checkups with your surgeon to provide advice about monitoring.