A Leaky Situation Don't panic if you find that your implant is leaking. Despite widespread media coverage of a possible association between breast implants and rheumatic disease, says Bassett, no study has shown that implants are the cause. If the implant gets smaller, that's usually a strong indication, says Lawrence Bassett, MD, professor of breast imaging at the University of California, Los Angeles. Also, you might notice a tiny nodule in the surrounding breast tissue. This nodule, called a granuloma, is sometimes caused by your body's reaction to silicone leaking into the breast tissue.
Physicians usually use an ultrasound to find out whether an implant is leaking.
In general, an MRI test will give a more detailed look inside the body. But several studies have shown, says Bassett, that in the hands of a skilled technician, the cheaper and faster ultrasound technique is just as good at diagnosing a leaky implant. Don't panic if you find that your implant is leaking. Despite widespread media coverage of a possible association between breast implants and rheumatic disease, says Bassett, no study has shown that implants are the cause. Removing the implant is still a good idea, though.