Breast condition · Abu Dhabi & Dubai
Breast Implant Rupture
Also known as: ruptured implant · silent rupture · leaking breast implant · burst implant · deflated implant · implant leak · intracapsular rupture · extracapsular rupture
Medically reviewed by Dr. Paulo Michels, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon· Updated 29 September 2026
Breast implant rupture is a tear or hole in the implant shell. A saline implant deflates visibly within days; a modern cohesive silicone implant usually ruptures silently, with the gel held inside the scar-tissue capsule, so it is often found only on ultrasound or MRI. It is not an emergency, but a confirmed rupture is treated surgically. Dr. Paulo Michels plans removal or exchange in Abu Dhabi.
Treated with
What happens when a breast implant ruptures?
A breast implant is a shell — a flexible silicone envelope — filled either with saline (sterile salt water) or with silicone gel. A rupture is a tear or hole in that shell. Implants are durable medical devices, but they are not designed to last for life, and the shell can weaken with the years.
What happens next depends almost entirely on what the implant is filled with.
- Saline implants deflate. The salt water leaks out and is absorbed harmlessly by the body, and the breast visibly shrinks over hours to days.
- Silicone implants do not deflate. Modern cohesive silicone gel is thick and holds together, and the scar-tissue capsule around the implant contains it. The breast often looks and feels exactly the same — which is why silicone rupture is so often silent.
What is a silent rupture?
A silent rupture is a rupture of a silicone implant that produces no symptoms. It is not a rare curiosity; it is the typical way modern silicone implants fail. Because you may notice nothing at all, a silent rupture is usually discovered on imaging — sometimes during a scan arranged for a different reason, sometimes during routine follow-up of older implants.
Surgeons describe two forms:
| Type | Where the silicone is | How it usually presents |
|---|---|---|
| Intracapsular rupture | Inside the scar-tissue capsule around the implant | Most common; typically silent, found on imaging |
| Extracapsular rupture | Beyond the capsule, in the surrounding breast tissue | Less common; may cause lumps, firmness or a change in shape |
Silicone can occasionally travel further, to the lymph nodes in the armpit, where it may be felt as a small lump. This is uncommon and usually harmless, but any new lump in the breast or armpit should be examined so that other causes are excluded.
What are the signs of a ruptured implant?
With a saline implant, the sign is unmistakable: one breast becomes smaller and softer than the other.
With a silicone implant, there may be no sign at all. When symptoms do occur, they include:
- a change in the size or shape of the breast;
- new firmness, hardening or a tighter feel — rupture can accompany capsular contracture;
- lumps in the breast or armpit;
- pain, tenderness, burning or swelling;
- a change in how the implant moves or sits.
Visible folds under the skin are not by themselves a sign of rupture — that is usually implant rippling, a coverage problem that occurs with intact implants.
How is a rupture confirmed?
A rupture is diagnosed with imaging, not by touch. Each test has a role:
- Ultrasound is widely available, involves no radiation and detects many ruptures, including signs of silicone outside the capsule. Its accuracy depends on the experience of the operator and on the implant, so a normal ultrasound does not always settle the question.
- MRI is considered the most sensitive imaging test for silicone implant rupture. It shows the shell and the gel in detail and is the reference when ultrasound is inconclusive or the decision matters.
- Mammography is a breast cancer screening test and is not designed to assess implant integrity. If you have mammograms, always tell the radiographer that you have implants so that appropriate views are taken.
In Dr. Paulo Michels’ practice, ultrasound is used routinely and MRI when rupture is suspected or the implants are old.
What causes breast implants to rupture?
In many cases no single cause is found — the shell has simply aged. Recognised contributing factors include:
- Age of the implant. The longer an implant has been in place, the more likely the shell is to have weakened.
- Folding and wear at one point of the shell.
- Damage during the original surgery, for example from a surgical instrument.
- Significant trauma to the chest.
- Capsular contracture, which puts the shell under pressure.
- Closed capsulotomy — forcefully squeezing the breast to break a tight capsule — an outdated practice known to cause rupture.
Is a ruptured implant dangerous?
A rupture is not a medical emergency. Current evidence has not shown that a ruptured silicone implant causes systemic disease. That said, a ruptured implant is no longer functioning as the device was designed, silicone can migrate beyond the capsule with time, and rupture is associated with contracture and changes in shape. For these reasons, a confirmed rupture is normally treated surgically rather than left in place indefinitely. The timing can be planned calmly.
Symptoms that some women attribute to their implants — sometimes called breast implant illness — are a separate question, discussed in breast implant illness: what is known, and when explant helps. A late, new swelling of one breast years after surgery is also different from rupture and should always be examined, as explained on the breast implant removal page.
Can a ruptured implant be left alone?
This is a common question, particularly from women whose rupture was found by chance and who feel well. Nothing needs to happen overnight, and some women take time to decide between exchange and removal. But leaving a confirmed rupture in place indefinitely is not recommended, because the situation can progress — silicone can move beyond the capsule, and the capsule can contract — making later surgery more complex. The practical approach is to confirm the diagnosis, plan the operation you want, and schedule it.
Which operation treats a ruptured implant?
The ruptured implant is removed. What happens next is your decision, made with honest advice about your tissue.
Removing the implant and the capsule
A ruptured silicone implant is best removed with the capsule intact around it — en bloc — so that the free gel is contained and not spread into the pocket. When the capsule is thin and firmly adherent to the chest wall, a careful total capsulectomy may be safer. The trade-offs are explained in detail in en bloc vs total capsulectomy.
Exchange for a new implant
If you want to keep implants, a new premium cohesive silicone implant — Motiva, Mentor or Polytech — is placed, usually in a Dual Plane pocket, with no-touch insertion using the Keller Funnel. Exchange is also a natural moment to reconsider size and position; many women choose a different implant the second time. Implant choice and placement are covered on the breast augmentation page, and the wider reasons for revision in breast implant revision and replacement.
Removal without replacement
Some women take a rupture as the moment to stop having implants. Breast implant removal can be combined with a lift or fat transfer to keep a natural shape; whether you are likely to need one is explained in will my breasts sag after implant removal.
What does recovery look like?
After an implant exchange, recovery follows augmentation: light walking from the day of surgery, desk work after about a week for most patients, a support bra and back-sleeping for 4 to 6 weeks, and no high-impact exercise or upper-body weights for 4 to 6 weeks. After removal, the timeline in the explant recovery guide applies. Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks keep the first days comfortable in either case.
How often should implants be checked?
Regulators and implant manufacturers publish recommendations for periodic imaging of silicone implants, including in women with no symptoms, and these differ between countries and implant types. Rather than applying a single rule, Dr. Paulo Michels recommends an imaging plan based on your implant, its age and your history. Two principles apply to everyone: keep your implant card safe — it identifies the manufacturer, model and serial number and is needed for any warranty claim — and have any new symptom checked promptly, whatever the schedule says.
When should I see a surgeon?
Arrange an assessment if:
- one breast has become smaller, softer or deflated (saline);
- the size, shape or firmness of a breast has changed;
- you feel a new lump in the breast or armpit;
- you have new pain, swelling or tenderness in an augmented breast;
- a scan has reported a possible or confirmed rupture;
- your implants are old, you have no records and you would like to know their condition.
How is a suspected rupture assessed at the consultation?
Dr. Paulo Michels examines both breasts and the armpits, reviews your implant card or operative notes if you have them, and arranges imaging — ultrasound routinely, MRI when rupture is suspected or the ultrasound is inconclusive. Once the diagnosis is clear, the options — exchange, removal, or removal with a lift or fat transfer — are explained with their honest trade-offs.
The practice is WhatsApp-first: send a message to +971 50 106 7981 to arrange your consultation. All surgery takes place at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, a fully licensed private hospital; patients from Dubai and across the UAE are seen there routinely, with visits grouped to reduce travel. Consultations are available in English, Portuguese or Spanish, and costs are individual, quoted after the consultation.
Questions, answered
Breast Implant Rupture — your questions
What is a breast implant rupture?+
A rupture is a tear or hole in the outer shell of the implant. With a saline implant the salt water escapes and the breast deflates. With a silicone implant the gel may stay inside the shell or the surrounding scar-tissue capsule, or, less commonly, move beyond the capsule into the breast tissue. Implants are durable medical devices, but they are not designed to last for life.
What is a silent rupture?+
A silent rupture is a rupture of a silicone implant that causes no symptoms and no visible change. Because cohesive silicone gel is thick and stays largely in place, and the capsule around the implant contains it, you may feel and see nothing different. Silent ruptures are found on imaging — ultrasound or MRI — often during a check for another reason.
How do I know if my silicone implant has ruptured?+
Often you cannot tell, which is why silent rupture is found on imaging. When symptoms occur, they include a change in the size or shape of the breast, new firmness or hardening, lumps, pain or tenderness, swelling, or a change in how the implant moves. Any of these should prompt an examination and an ultrasound, with MRI where the picture is unclear.
How do I know if my saline implant has ruptured?+
Saline rupture is usually obvious. The salt water leaks out and is absorbed harmlessly by the body, and the breast visibly shrinks and softens over hours to days, so the two sides no longer match. The deflated shell then needs to be removed or exchanged; the timing is not an emergency but is best not left for long, as the pocket can contract.
What is the difference between intracapsular and extracapsular rupture?+
In an intracapsular rupture the shell is torn but the silicone stays inside the scar-tissue capsule around the implant — this is the most common form and the typical silent rupture. In an extracapsular rupture silicone has passed through the capsule into the surrounding breast tissue, where it can form small firm lumps. Extracapsular rupture is less common and more likely to cause symptoms.
Which scan detects implant rupture best?+
MRI is considered the most sensitive imaging test for silicone implant rupture and is the reference when the answer matters or the ultrasound is inconclusive. Ultrasound is widely available, has no radiation and detects many ruptures, but its accuracy depends on the operator and the implant. Mammography is not designed to assess implant integrity. Dr. Paulo Michels uses ultrasound routinely and MRI when rupture is suspected.
What causes a breast implant to rupture?+
Common factors are ageing of the shell over many years, a weak point created by folding or wear, damage during the original surgery, significant trauma to the chest, a tight capsular contracture, and the old practice of forcefully squeezing the breast to break a capsule. Often no specific cause can be identified — the implant has simply aged.
Is a ruptured implant dangerous?+
A rupture is not a medical emergency. Current evidence has not shown that a ruptured silicone implant causes systemic disease, but a ruptured implant is no longer functioning as designed, silicone can migrate beyond the capsule over time, and rupture is associated with capsular contracture. For these reasons a confirmed rupture is normally treated surgically rather than left in place.
Do I need surgery if my implant is ruptured?+
When a rupture is confirmed, removal of the implant is recommended. What is done next is your choice: exchange for a new implant, removal without replacement, or removal combined with a lift or fat transfer. The timing can be planned — there is no need for emergency surgery — but it should not be postponed indefinitely.
Should the capsule be removed with a ruptured implant?+
Often, yes. A ruptured silicone implant is best removed with the capsule intact around it — en bloc — so that free silicone gel is contained and not spread into the pocket. When the capsule is thin and firmly stuck to the chest wall, a careful total capsulectomy may be the safer approach. The choice is explained in the en bloc versus total capsulectomy guide.
Can silicone move to the lymph nodes?+
Yes, silicone can occasionally travel to the lymph nodes in the armpit, where it may be felt as a small lump or seen on imaging. This is uncommon, is usually harmless, and removing the nodes is not routinely necessary. A new lump in the armpit should always be examined, however, so that other causes are excluded.
Do breast implants need to be replaced every 10 years?+
No. Modern cohesive silicone implants do not have a fixed expiry date. They are replaced or removed when there is a reason — rupture, significant capsular contracture, a change in shape, or a change in what you want. Long-term follow-up with periodic examination and imaging matters far more than a calendar date.
How often should my implants be checked for rupture?+
Regulators and implant manufacturers publish recommendations for periodic imaging of silicone implants, even without symptoms, and these vary between countries and implant types. Rather than a single rule, Dr. Paulo Michels advises an imaging plan based on your implant, its age and your history — and any new symptom should be checked promptly, regardless of the schedule.
Can Dr. Michels treat a rupture from surgery done elsewhere?+
Yes. Bring your implant card, which identifies the manufacturer, model and serial number and is also needed for any manufacturer warranty claim. If you have no records, ultrasound or MRI identifies the implant and confirms the rupture. Surgery takes place at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, and patients from Dubai and across the UAE are seen there routinely.
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