Breast Implants

What I Wish I’d Known About Leak Checks and Breast Cancer Screening

Thinking about breast implants or already have them? Here’s what to know about follow-up care, silent rupture, symptoms, testing costs, and questions to ask your doctor.

By Jennifer Board | Certified Menopause and Wellness Practitioner | Just Jelly Unfiltered October 22,2026

Hey you, it’s me.

I’ve had breast implants for 16 years. Sixteen. And recently, a conversation with a friend made me realize how much I still had to learn about caring for them.

She told me she had an issue with a leak and needed a sonogram, also called an ultrasound.

My response? “Really? I don’t even think I’ve had mine checked.”

That question stayed with me. Had anyone checked my implants specifically? Was that part of my usual breast screening? What was I supposed to be asking?

It turns out I am far from alone. In one 2022 survey of women with silicone implants, only 15.6% had ever had an MRI after surgery, and just 5.9% had one on the recommended schedule under the previous FDA recommendations. Many said no one had told them it was needed.

So I started researching. And y’all know how the FYP works once you start looking into something. Suddenly, my feed was full of women sharing their experiences with implant concerns, testing, and trying to find answers. I went down the rabbit hole, reading story after story.

One of the women who has spoken publicly about her experience is Brandi Glanville. Reading her account brought up even more questions for me. Personal stories can get a conversation started, and I wanted to understand what the medical guidance actually says about implant checks.

That research led me to start tracking down my paperwork so I can book my own appointment.

I’m sharing this because you may be sitting where I was, thinking, “I’ve had these for years. Was I ever told what follow-up I needed?”

Maybe you chose implants years ago. Maybe they were part of reconstruction after breast cancer. You deserve to understand what you have, which checks may be appropriate, and what changes deserve a call.

In this resource, we’ll bring those questions together: implant checks, ultrasound and MRI, silent rupture, replacement, and what to ask your healthcare provider. I’ve also included a printable to help you keep your implant information and follow-up plan in one place.

Have you booked a breast implant checkup? If you’re unsure when yours were last assessed, that’s a question worth bringing to your surgeon or healthcare provider.

Let’s have the follow-up conversation I’m realizing I needed, too.

Before we begin

This guide is for education and awareness. It does not provide a diagnosis, a prescription, or individual medical advice. Your plastic surgeon or healthcare provider can assess your implants and recommend appropriate tests and care.

Know what you have

Silicone or saline

A saline rupture is usually visible. A silicone rupture is often silent.

Saline implants contain sterile salt water. A rupture usually causes noticeable deflation or a change in size or shape. The body absorbs the saline, but the implant still needs assessment. Routine rupture imaging is generally unnecessary without symptoms.

Silicone implants contain gel. A rupture may leave the gel within the surrounding scar tissue capsule, with no obvious change in appearance or sensation. This is called a silent rupture. A physical examination alone cannot reliably detect it.

Smooth or textured

The surface type matters, especially when discussing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL. This rare lymphoma is associated mainly with textured implants. Ask which surface you have and whether your model has been recalled.

Brandi Glanville’s story and the question it raised

Brandi Glanville publicly described ruptured implants and said a sonogram helped identify the problem. Her explanation of her broader health problems is her own account. It does not establish that another woman’s symptoms have the same cause.

The useful question for our own care is: “Have my implants been assessed specifically, as well as my breast tissue?”

Keep the paperwork

I was younger when I got my implants. Since then, I’ve moved 16 times. Where is my implant card? God only knows.

Now I’m spending next week trying to track down information I wish I had kept somewhere safe.

If you’re in the same situation, start with your original surgeon’s office. Request your operative report and implant identification records for both breasts. If the office cannot help, contact the hospital or surgery center. If you know the manufacturer, ask whether it has your device registration.

• Surgery date, surgeon, and facility.
• Manufacturer, model, and size of each implant.
• Silicone or saline, and smooth or textured surface.
• Serial or lot numbers for the left and right implants.
• Warranty documents, previous imaging, and your follow-up plan.

Save a secure digital copy alongside the paper records. If registered with a manufacturer, keep your contact details current. Mark missing information “unknown” and tell your current clinician. You can start your follow-up care while searching for records.

How often should I have leak checks?

For silicone implants, the FDA recommends an ultrasound or MRI 5 to 6 years after placement, then every 2 to 3 years, even if you feel fine.

For silicone implants without symptoms, the FDA recommends the first ultrasound or MRI five to six years after placement, then every two to three years. This applies to cosmetic augmentation and reconstruction.

For saline implants without symptoms, routine rupture imaging is generally unnecessary. Report deflation or other changes.

New symptoms deserve evaluation at any time. If ultrasound is inconclusive, MRI may be needed. Your clinician chooses the appropriate examination based on the concern.

Ask your surgeon how often to attend office follow-ups. An office visit and implant imaging serve different purposes, and the imaging interval is not a reason to delay a visit for a new symptom.

If your silicone implants are older than five to six years and you cannot remember having implant imaging, ask: “My implants were placed around [year]. What imaging and follow-up do I need now?”

Breast self-awareness with implants

Implants can change how your breasts feel. Ask your surgeon or healthcare provider to show you how to distinguish the implant from the surrounding breast tissue, including familiar edges, folds, and scar tissue.

Get familiar with your usual breast shape, skin, nipples, and sensation. Notice new swelling, asymmetry, firmness, dimpling, nipple changes, discharge, or a lump in the breast or underarm. Bring new changes to a healthcare professional.

The American Cancer Society does not recommend a formal monthly breast self-exam as routine screening for average-risk women. Follow any individualized instructions from your care team and report changes whenever you notice them.

An at-home check cannot reliably detect a silent silicone rupture or rule out breast cancer. You do not need to identify the cause of a change before asking for help.

Keep breast cancer screening in your plan

Implant integrity imaging and breast cancer screening answer different questions. A normal mammogram does not confirm that a silicone implant is intact. An implant ultrasound or noncontrast MRI does not replace breast cancer screening.

• Tell the mammography facility you have implants when booking and again at the appointment.
• Ask whether the facility regularly images people with implants. Extra implant displacement views may be used to see more breast tissue.
• Tell the technologist about pain, a suspected rupture, or other concerns before imaging.

If you had augmentation, follow breast cancer screening recommendations for your age and risk. If you had a mastectomy and reconstruction, ask your breast care team which screening applies to your remaining breast tissue and individual history.

Read Know Your Normal: Breast Changes, Early Detection, and When to Make the Call

Which scan should I ask about?

Ultrasound or MRI can be used for routine silicone checks. MRI is often used when ultrasound is unclear or you have symptoms.

Ultrasound is an accepted option for routine silicone rupture screening. MRI is the most effective method for detecting silent rupture and may be used when ultrasound is unclear or a more detailed evaluation is needed. Implant integrity MRI usually does not use contrast; MRI for possible cancer may require a different protocol. Ask your clinician which test is appropriate.

Will insurance cover implant testing?

It depends on your plan and the reason for the test. Routine checks without symptoms may be self-pay.

Coverage depends on your specific plan, the reason for imaging, and whether your implants were placed for cosmetic surgery or reconstruction. FDA recommendations do not guarantee insurance payment.

• Routine checks without symptoms may be an out-of-pocket expense.
• Testing for symptoms or suspected rupture may be covered when it meets the plan’s medical-necessity rules. For example, Aetna lists MRI for suspected rupture in symptomatic members under specified conditions.
• Removal and replacement may have different coverage rules. Medically necessary removal may be covered while cosmetic replacement is excluded.
• Plans covering mastectomy generally have federal reconstruction protections under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act. Ask about your specific benefits and complications coverage.

Even a covered test may involve a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. Confirm prior authorization and network status before booking.

What could testing cost?

Prices vary by location, facility, examination, and billing arrangement. As an example checked October 3, 2026, HerScan advertises ultrasound screening with implant assessment at $295 in most states and $325 in Alaska, California, Hawaii, and New York. This is one provider’s advertised price, not a national average. Ask your clinician whether that service meets your needs, especially if you have symptoms. I have no affiliation with HerScan.

For MRI, request a written price for the exact implant integrity examination ordered. Check whether the quote includes both the scan and the radiologist’s interpretation. Compare in-network and self-pay options without changing the prescribed test.

Questions before booking

• Is this specific examination covered for my reason for testing?
• Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
• Are both the facility and radiologist in network?
• What is my total estimated cost, including interpretation?
• If coverage is denied, what documentation or appeal is available?
• Are there self-pay rates or payment plans?

Call script: “My clinician recommended imaging to assess my implants. What is covered, what authorization is needed, and what would my total out-of-pocket cost be?”

Changes and symptoms worth a call

Call about any new swelling, lump, pain, hardening, or change in shape, no matter how long you have had your implants.

• New swelling, asymmetry, or a change in breast size or shape.
• A new lump in the breast, chest area, or underarm.
• Persistent pain, tenderness, firmness, hardening, or tightness.
• Burning, tingling, numbness, or changes in sensation.
• Sudden deflation with saline implants.
• New skin or nipple changes, or nipple discharge.

These findings can have several causes, including conditions unrelated to implants. A symptom checklist cannot diagnose rupture or cancer. If you have fever with a red, hot, painful breast, or rapidly worsening swelling or pain, seek urgent medical assessment.

What could happen if a problem goes unnoticed

A silicone rupture can remain unnoticed because it may cause no symptoms. Sometimes silicone moves outside the surrounding scar tissue and into nearby tissues or lymph nodes. Removing escaped silicone can be difficult. Follow-up helps your clinician identify a problem and discuss options; it cannot prevent every complication or guarantee lower future costs.

Rare implant-associated cancers

BIA-ALCL is a rare lymphoma that can develop in fluid or scar tissue around an implant. It is associated mainly with textured implants. Persistent swelling, a mass, or pain can develop years after placement and deserves prompt evaluation.

The FDA requested the 2019 recall of Allergan BIOCELL textured implants. It does not recommend automatic removal for people without symptoms solely because of BIA-ALCL concerns. Discuss your model and personal situation with your surgeon.

The FDA has also reported rare squamous cell carcinoma and other lymphomas in the implant capsule. Knowing your device and reporting changes helps your team decide what evaluation is needed.

There is real hope. When found early, BIA-ALCL is often treated successfully by removing the implant and surrounding scar tissue. Research shows 93% of people treated are disease-free three years later.

Body-wide symptoms and breast implant illness

Some people report fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, rash, or hair loss and use the term breast implant illness. Causes remain under investigation, and there is no single diagnostic test. These symptoms can occur with intact implants and have other possible causes. Ask for a broader evaluation. Removal improves symptoms for some people, but improvement is not guaranteed.

How often do implants need replacing?

There is no set expiration date. Replacement or removal depends on symptoms, examination, imaging, and your goals.

There is no automatic replacement deadline that applies to everyone. Turning 10 years old does not, by itself, mean an implant needs to come out.

Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer you have them, the greater the chance of complications and additional surgery. Decisions depend on symptoms, examination, imaging, implant condition, and your preferences.

If rupture, painful capsular contracture, infection, or another complication is found, your surgeon can explain the recommended management. Ask about removal, replacement, and the risks of each option.

My implants are 16 years old. That is information I need to bring into the conversation with my doctor.

Questions about your options

• What do my examination and imaging show?
• What are the benefits and risks of monitoring, removal, or replacement?
• What happens if I wait, and what changes would require a quicker response?
• If removal is recommended, what surgery is needed and why?
• What recovery, appearance changes, and future follow-up should I expect?
• Does my manufacturer’s warranty help with any costs? What is excluded?

Finding a doctor for implant follow-up

In the United States, look for a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who has experience evaluating older implants and managing complications. You can start with your primary care provider if you need help finding care.

• Do you regularly evaluate implants placed by another surgeon?
• Can you help identify my implants if my records are missing?
• Which imaging do you recommend, and where should I have it?
• What findings would lead you to recommend monitoring, removal, or replacement?
• Who will explain my results and arrange follow-up?
• What costs should I expect, and can your office help check coverage?

You deserve time to ask questions, clear explanations, and a plan you understand. If you feel unheard, ask for the reasoning behind the plan and seek a second opinion when needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can my implants leak even if my breasts feel normal?

Yes. Silicone rupture can be silent. Feeling fine does not replace recommended imaging.

Is a sonogram the same as an ultrasound?

Yes. These terms refer to the same type of imaging. Ask whether the examination specifically assesses implant integrity.

Does a normal mammogram mean my implants are intact?

No. Mammograms evaluate breast tissue for cancer and are not a reliable way to exclude silicone rupture.

I lost my implant card. Can I still get checked?

Yes. Request your operative report and implant records from your surgeon or surgical facility. Ask the manufacturer about registration if you know the brand. Tell your current clinician what is unknown and begin follow-up while searching.

Will imaging recover my implant serial number?

Imaging can assess implant condition and may help identify the implant type. It generally cannot recover the exact serial number. The original records are the best place to look.

What if my surgeon has retired?

Ask the hospital or surgical center for records and find a plastic surgeon experienced in implant follow-up. Older records may no longer be available; bring whatever information you have.

Let’s hear from you

Write me back and let me know your story. What do you wish you had known? Have you had your implants checked, struggled to find your paperwork, or faced an unexpected complication?

Share only what you feel comfortable sharing. Please leave out identifying medical records and implant serial numbers. If I’d like to share any part of your story publicly, I’ll ask your permission first.

Share your story with Just Jelly Unfiltered

Your next step

Find what records you can. Ask which imaging and breast cancer screening apply to you. Save your results and the next follow-up date. If something has changed, make the call now.

I’m having this conversation as a woman with implants who realized she still had questions. If you’re asking those questions, too, bring them to someone qualified to help you make a plan.

I am still searching for my implant records, and my appointment is next. I will come back and share what I find, what the appointment is like, and what I learn, in Part 2.

Don’t quit in the quiet.
With love,
Jenn

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