Chrishell Stause is keeping it candid. On Monday, September 16, the Selling Sunset star took to Instagram to reveal that the breast implants she got “about 15 years ago” ruptured—and she only discovered it after undergoing a comprehensive body scan.
The 43-year-old reality star shared a confessional-style video on her Instagram grid, along with a lengthy caption documenting her journey. “Earlier this year, I had a full body scan and learned both of my breast implants were ruptured,” she began. “My first thought was fear, thinking about having to undergo surgery and if the rupture would lead to any complications. But very happy I found @josefhadeedmd, and had an amazing experience with him and his team. They were able to remove all of the silicone and replace my 15-year-old *vintage* implants.”
Watch the video
Stause is familiar with the criticism that often comes with cosmetic treatments, so she went on to reassure that breast implants, like all cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery, are a “personal choice.” She went on to say, “I’m in no way encouraging anyone to change anything about their body. If you do make that choice for yourself, it’s so important to stay on top of your health – I know many people could be living with this and have no idea.”
She concluded the post with a message inviting her followers to share their questions. “I want to be fully open and transparent about my experience in the hopes it could help anyone else going through this. I’m going to do an Ask Me Anything on my stories if there’s anything you want to know!” And in the meantime, NewBeauty spokew with New York board-certified plastic surgeon Lyle Leipziger, MD, to answer your biggest questions about breast implant ruptures. Check them out below.
What are the potential health risks or complications associated with ruptured breast implants?
“A patient with ruptured breast implants may notice their breasts appear uneven, and the shape and size may change as a result. Additionally, if the rupture is long-standing, firmness of the breast, as well as discomfort, may result.”
Is there any difference in risk between saline and silicone implants in terms of ruptures?
“Ruptured silicone implants, if caught early, will usually have the silicone gel still within the implant capsule. A rupture that has been discovered later might have the silicone gel become integrated into the surrounding implant capsule, causing increased scar tissue and discomfort. When a patient undergoes removal and replacement of a ruptured implant, an evaluation of the implant capsule should be performed at the same time. Partial or complete removal of the implant capsule may be indicated depending on the intraoperative findings.
Saline implant ruptures are usually easily diagnosed by the patient because the breast size decreases due to the leakage of saline outside the implant. Saline in the implant is usually physiologic to the body and usually does not cause an issue. However, any ruptured device, whether it’s saline or silicone, should not remain in the body and should be removed.”
How often should individuals with breast implants undergo scans or check-ups to monitor their condition?
“Patients undergoing breast augmentation should have a yearly evaluation by their board-certified plastic surgeon to review any cosmetic or medical concerns. Women who get mammograms every year after the age of 35-40 will automatically have a surveillance of the breast implant as part of the mammogram sonogram study. Those tests might indicate if the implants are intact or not. If they are not intact, then removal and replacement would be advised. In the case that a mammogram sonogram is uncertain, a patient would undergo an MRI to evaluate implant integrity.”
