Why do I need a breast implant check?
Implants are not lifetime devices: the shell can weaken with age, and problems such as a silent rupture or fluid around the implant often cause no symptoms. A check confirms your implants are intact, looks at the capsule and tissue around them, and gives you a clear record to compare against in future.
Can an ultrasound diagnose a breast implant rupture?
Usually, yes. Ultrasound reliably shows rupture where silicone or saline has escaped outside the capsule, and many ruptures inside it. Signs include a collapsed shell, characteristic patterns within the implant and silicone in the tissue or lymph nodes.
A minority of silicone ruptures that stay contained within the capsule are better confirmed with MRI. If your scan is inconclusive, your specialist will tell you honestly and arrange an MRI.
What are the signs of a ruptured breast implant?
Saline implants usually deflate visibly within days. Silicone rupture is often silent, but you might notice:
- A change in breast shape, size or firmness
- Pain, tenderness or a burning sensation
- Lumps around the implant or in the armpit
- Swelling or thickening
Any of these is a good reason to book a check.
Is a ruptured breast implant dangerous?
A rupture is not usually an emergency. Saline is absorbed harmlessly by the body. Modern silicone is a cohesive gel that tends to stay in place, and a rupture contained inside the capsule (an intracapsular or silent rupture) often causes no symptoms at all.
Most surgeons still recommend replacing or removing a ruptured implant, in a planned way, because silicone that escapes can cause lumps, inflammation and changes in shape over time. The scan tells you exactly what has happened so you can plan calmly.
What causes a breast implant to rupture?
The most common cause is simply age: the shell weakens over the years, and the chance of rupture rises after around ten years. Other causes include folds in the shell, capsular contracture, injury to the chest and, rarely, damage during surgery. A standard mammogram very rarely causes rupture, and screening teams use special techniques to protect implants.
How often should breast implants be checked?
There is no single UK rule. A sensible approach is a baseline check once healed, then periodic checks, particularly as implants pass ten years. For silicone implants, the US FDA recommends a first scan five to six years after surgery and then every two to three years, which many specialists use as a guide. Any new symptom deserves a check straight away.
Can an ultrasound detect lumps if I have breast implants?
Yes. Ultrasound is particularly useful with implants because it examines the breast tissue in front of and around the implant without compressing it. Any lump can be measured and characterised, and the armpit lymph nodes checked at the same time.
What is breast implant ALCL?
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare type of lymphoma that can develop in the capsule around an implant, mostly with textured implants. It usually appears years after surgery as swelling caused by fluid around the implant, sometimes with a lump.
Ultrasound is the first test: it shows fluid or a mass, and fluid can be sampled for testing. Found early, BIA-ALCL is usually treated successfully by removing the implant and capsule.
What is capsular contracture?
Your body naturally forms a capsule of scar tissue around an implant. In capsular contracture the capsule tightens, making the breast feel firm, look misshapen or become painful. Ultrasound shows the thickness of the capsule and the shape of the implant within it, and whether a rupture is also present, which helps your surgeon decide on treatment.
Can a breast implant check diagnose breast implant illness?
Breast implant illness describes a range of symptoms, such as tiredness, joint pain and brain fog, that some people attribute to their implants. There is no scan that diagnoses it. What the check can do is confirm whether your implants are intact and whether there is fluid or inflammation, which is valuable information for any conversation with your surgeon.
Ultrasound or MRI for breast implants?
Ultrasound is quick, comfortable, radiation-free and gives results the same day; it is an excellent first test for rupture, fluid, lumps and lymph nodes. MRI is the most sensitive test for silicone rupture contained inside the capsule. Many people start with ultrasound and only need MRI if the scan raises a question.
Can I have a mammogram with breast implants?
Yes. Breast screening is still offered with implants, using special techniques that gently move the implant aside. Tell the screening team that you have implants. A breast ultrasound is a useful addition if you have dense tissue or a specific concern.
Does a breast implant ultrasound hurt?
No. The probe rests gently on the skin with a little warm gel and does not squeeze the implant. If an area is tender the specialist works carefully. There are no needles unless sampling is recommended and you agree, and no radiation.
How long does a breast implant check take?
Around twenty to thirty minutes. That includes a short chat about your implants, a careful examination of both sides, and time for the specialist to explain the findings on screen.
Will I need a follow-up appointment after my ultrasound?
Not usually. If your implants are intact, your report suggests a sensible interval for the next check. If anything needs a closer look, such as an MRI, fluid sampling or a surgical opinion, your specialist explains why and arranges it with you.
How much does a breast implant check cost?
At Harley Street Ultrasound a private breast implant check costs £350, a fixed price for the appointment: the scan of both implants and breasts, the specialist’s time, your written report and images. Same-day or next-day appointments are usually available.
What if you find something?
Your specialist tells you in the room, in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You will never be sent home to wait for a letter. Most findings are benign and need nothing more than a sensible review date.
Anything that does need attention gets a clear, objective recommendation in your report: monitor, test further, or refer. Follow-up tests can usually be arranged at 99 Harley Street, often the same week, and those results are also explained to you personally.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book a breast implant check in London directly online or by phone. No GP letter, no waiting list, and same-day or next-day appointments are usually available. If you are searching for a breast implant check near me from anywhere in central London, we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
If you are wondering how much a private breast implant check costs, the answer is published before you book: £350, a fixed price for the appointment: the examination, the specialist’s time, your written report and your images. Insured patients should bring a referral or authorisation number if their policy requires one.
How soon will I have the written report?
Usually the same day: a Harley Street breast implant check comes with same-day results as standard, and you will already know the findings, because they are explained to you on screen during the appointment.
The written report is prepared by the specialist team and published to your secure patient portal together with your images, with measurements and a clear recommendation, ready to share with your GP or specialist.
What happens after the scan?
Nothing special: there is no aftercare needed. You can eat, drive and go back to work straight away. Diagnostic ultrasound at these intensities has no confirmed adverse effects, which is why it can be repeated safely for monitoring. If your results suggest a next step, your specialist explains it before you leave.
Can I still use the NHS afterwards?
Yes: completely. Coming to us privately never affects your NHS care. Our job is to get you answers quickly; if anything needs urgent attention, your specialist writes to your NHS GP recommending an urgent appointment, so you re-enter the NHS pathway with a diagnosis already in hand rather than joining the queue from the start.
