Ruptured silicone implant

A tear in a silicone implant might not be noticeable at first — or ever — because the silicone tends to stay trapped in the scar tissue that forms around the implant. This is known as a silent rupture.

Leaking silicone gel isn't thought to cause health problems, but it can travel to other parts of the body. Silicone found outside of the breast is often not removed due to the risk of damaging other tissues.

A torn silicone breast implant might cause breast pain, breast thickening or changes in the shape of the breast. If this happens, surgical removal of the implant might be needed. A new implant can usually be put in at the same time.