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- April 3, 2024
Can Breast Implants Explode?
Okay, can a breast implant explode? It seems like a comical question to ask, but it’s actually not silly. Your breast implants will not violently explode inside your body if you reach high altitudes in a plane, perhaps. Nor are they going to explode when you’re scuba diving such that your body is exposed to enormous pressure underwater. And why is this the case? Let’s talk about the science.
Can breast implants explode at high altitudes? (Explained)
Now if you carry a bag full of chips from a low altitude to a high attitude rapidly, guess what will happen? It swells up and pops, flinging tasty chips all over.
Why does this happen? Consider that there is air trapped inside the packaging. Since it was packed under high pressure, moving to a high altitude where there is less air pressure, means that inside the packaging, the pressure is higher. The air wants to escape, and thus pushes against the packaging.
The reason your implant can’t explode once you’re in a high attitude is that it is filled with saline (salty water) or silicone gel. These fluids can’t be compressed. Now, there might be a few air bubbles trapped in the liquid. At most, this can only cause a small push on the shell from the inside, but nothing in the way of making them explode — unless your surgeon made some severe mistakes.
Breast implant explodes high altitude: Known cases
It’s quite rare to encounter a situation where breast implants explode during flight. Women with implants fly on airplanes every year, and implants are also tested at high altitudes. Still, we found a peculiar case of an implant bursting.
Mai Tuong, a Vietnamese singer, was on a flight returning home from Taiwan. After experiencing sharp pain in her chest, she heard a popping sound. Her silicone implant had burst. After a closer examination, it was discovered that her doctor was to blame.
He had installed defective implants that had air trapped inside them. During the flight, it’s possible that there was high pressure from the inside as air tried to escape.
After searching for the doctor who had even given her a guarantee, she found out that he had changed careers. What a crafty doctor!
That’s the reason you should choose a certified and experienced surgeon with high standards of quality. Before you make a decision, refer to local resources. This guide to breast augmentation in Miami is a good example of resources you might want to check out.
Breast implant ruptures
Now that you have a definitive answer to the question “Can breast implants explode at high altitudes,” you should be aware of ruptures.
When a breast implant ruptures, it means that the barrier shell that’s holding the gel or saline solution inside has developed a tear that causes leakage.
For saline implants, the liquid tends to leak out quickly and is noticeable. For silicone implants, the leakage is often called a “silent rupture.” It’s harder to detect without an MRI scan since the thick silicone gel remains trapped within the capsular tissue that forms around the implant.
The most famous case of breast ruptures
Poly Implant Prothèse, a French company founded in 1991, became a very infamous name in plastic surgery. That’s because the company made implants that were associated with the highest incidents of ruptures. British resident, Kim Brockhurst had her PIP implants burst inside her body.
The reason for the high cases of ruptures was caused by the company’s negligence. PIP chose to make silicone implants out of industrial-grade silicone, the same stuff that makes some comfy mattresses.
The company’s illegal use of unauthorized silicone led to its subsequent downfall and closure by 2010. Around the world, it’s believed that over 400,000 women havereceived the implants, mostly in South America. None of the company’s products were sold in the US at the time.
Some action was taken by concerned governments. In France, the government promised to cover the costs of removing the implants, and consequently out of 30,000 affected women, half took the opportunity. What was the rate of rupture? It was placed at 5% but later revised to 1%.
Surprising fact: Most ruptured breast implants happen during surgery
In 2013, a study revealed that 51 to 64% of implant ruptures result from damages done by surgical instruments. Having breast implants explode during flight is quite rare.
That’s why choosing a careful doctor is key. Other problems are likely to be spotted during subsequent post-op appointments. For instance, you will likely have your first appointment within 72 hours.
Can direct trauma cause a rupture?
High pressures subjected to the implants during an accident, for instance, may cause failures. Extreme pressure is caused by a seat belt, airbag, or other items.
Now, it’s been found to be highly unlikely for the implants to get damaged during a fall.
Fortunately, damaged implants as a result of an accident may be eligible for compensation under various state laws.
How can I know if a breast implant has ruptured?
First, the breast may seem uneven. They just don’t look normal. Some lumps may form in the armpit region, chest, or abdomen. It is the case for silicone gel since it’s not absorbed in the blood. Some patients may experience some burning or tingling sensation.
Bottom Line
Can breast implants explode? Probably not, and in most cases, they just leak. With saline implants, selected by about 15% of the patients, there is little to worry about as the solution is absorbed into the body.
The best way forward is researching and choosing the best clinics. Price should be a consideration but don’t necessarily go cheap. Currently, some of the acclaimed implants are those covered with polyurethane foam.
