Ask Dr. Pane: Breast Implant/Cyst Removal Question

The Question

Sometimes patients find after cosmetic surgery that other problems have developed with their bodies which were not evident or present at the time of the initial procedure. It is human nature to seek out patterns and try to draw inferences or correlations between two unrelated things. This phenomenon is how we see faces in naturally occurring environments such as trees, mountains and so on. However, sometimes these correlations can assign blame where blame doesn’t belong. An example of this might be the topic of this week’s Ask Dr. Pane segment. The viewer is concerned because after having breast implants placed, a cyst developed behind the nipple. The patient believes the implants may be making her sick and wants to get Dr. Pane’s opinion on how best to proceed.

The Case

The patient did not divulge age or other factors which might be helpful in identifying the potential issues concerned. Dr. Pane notes the patient was told the problem does not meet the criteria for “medically necessary” correction as per their insurance company. This, coupled with a dearth of background information, makes it much more difficult to properly assess the situation. Therefore, Dr. Pane notes his answer to this question is strictly based upon experience and general opinion, but without significantly more information it would be difficult or impossible to give the patient a suitably specific answer relevant to their case.

The Answer

Without more information and an in-person clinical evaluation, Dr. Pane says he will speculate on what may be occurring in a couple of different ways.

If the implant is silicone gel, Dr. Pane says even if the gel leaks, the body of scientific and medical research and study of these implants does not implicate them in the development of cysts or as a cause of other illnesses. The medical-grade silicone used in such implants is specifically used because it is largely non-reactive within the body. The same applies with a saline implant, which is essentially filled with salt water. If these implants rupture and/or leak, they may leave the breast looking a bit unshapely, but there is no scientific basis for the idea that leakage correlates to other illnesses. Such illnesses are usually coincidental and related to factors other than the implants.

With this said, Dr. Pane notes it is entirely possible to remove implants which have ruptured and/or leaked, and/or are seen by the patient as being potentially problematic. This is a service he offers, and it is far from uncommon for patients to wish to have existing implants removed, either to increase their size or to restore the breast tissue to a more natural state. Depending upon the size and shape of the breast both before and after the removal, as well as the patient’s wishes, Dr. Pane may also perform a mastopexy to help rejuvenate the breast and tighten up the tissues in the area. 

Regarding the cyst, Dr. Pane says removal of cysts or lesions in the breast area is not typically done as part of a breast implant removal because he prefers to prioritize the main purpose and then reevaluate after healing. It is usually a good idea to have a biopsy of any unusual formations, so as to rule out malignant cancerous growths. However, if the patient desires and the results of imaging and a more in-depth evaluation of the area in question support such an action, Dr. Pane says it is not unheard of to remove the implant and any benign cyst or lesion tissue as part of mastopexy. Again, and this point cannot be stressed enough, without a great deal more information it is difficult if not impossible to give a more meaningful or accurate answer to this question. Patients are reminded that all answers given by Dr. Pane are strictly informational and hypothetical until and unless coupled with an in-person clinical assessment and complete medical history.

RealSelf Patient Reviews of Thomas A. Pane, MD

If you have a question about any aspect of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Pane and the staff of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics welcome the chance to address your desires, needs, concerns and interests. Simply follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn; call us at (561) 810-2322; or email us through our Contact page. Your question might even help us educate and inform other people who share your interests as the focus of an upcoming Ask Dr. Pane segment, where Dr. Pane answers your questions in a live Google Hangout. Remember, at ACA we believe the only bad question is the one you don’t ask!