What Causes a Saline Breast Implant to Deflate or Rupture?

Frequently Asked Questions: Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants

Saline breast implants deflate when the saline solution leaks either through an unsealed or damaged valve, or through a break in the implant shell. Implant deflation can occur immediately or progressively over a period of days and is noticed by loss of size or shape of the implant. Some implants deflate (or rupture) in the first few months after being implanted and some deflate after several years. Causes of deflation include damage by surgical instruments during surgery, overfilling or under-filling of the implant with saline solution, capsular contracture, closed capsulotomy, stresses such as trauma or intense physical manipulation, excessive compression during mammographic imaging, umbilical incision placement, and unknown/unexplained reasons. You should also be aware that the breast implant may wear out over time and deflate/rupture. Deflated implants necessitate additional surgery to remove and to possibly replace the implant.