Silicone Disease-Local Symptoms

Local Symptoms- Silicone implants are used for breast augmentation and/or breast reconstruction. Any implant used in the body can have local symptoms and silicone implants have been known to be associated with a number of chest wall symptoms. Breast implants are silicone shells filled with either saline or silicone gel or a combination of the two. Silicone implants can either be place above or below the chest wall muscles. Capsular contractures can form around the implants and are felt to be due to a low-grade infection within the scar tissue around the implant. This low-grade infection causes tightening of the normal scar tissue around the implant and squeezes the implant so it becomes more firm and is often associated with discomfort. Capsular contractures also can cause malposition of the implant. Silicone implants usually either leak silicone gel and/or rupture between 8 and 20 years. The first sign of leakage of gel and/or rupture of the envelope is a burning of the chest wall often associated with pain down the arm. Numbness of the extremity on the affected side is also frequent along with systemic symptoms, which will be reviewed in the next section. Any change in the shape of the implant and/or new onset of breast discomfort should warn the woman that the implant has become defective and needs to be evaluated by a plastic surgeon.

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Call or email Dr.Kolb via Plastkos at 770.457.4677 or drkolb@plastikos.com