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How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Breast augmentations are one of the top-rated plastic surgery procedures for women, allowing patients to enjoy years of happiness, satisfaction and more following their surgery. They typically involve the placement of either silicone or saline breast implants.
However, it’s important to understand that breast implants are not lifetime devices and do not last forever. After a certain amount of time, they will ultimately need to be replaced or removed. This depends on when you got your implants, the type you have and if you are experiencing any complications or have other issues.
Do I Have to Replace My Implants Every 10 Years?
For whatever reason, there is a very popular, if not almost ubiquitous, belief that breast implants have to be replaced every 10 years. Fortunately, this common misconception is not true now, nor was it ever even decades ago.
The Reality Is…
Over the years, implant technology and science have advanced with successive generations of implants, making them far more durable. They are lasting far longer now than the early breast implants of the ‘60s, ‘70s and beyond.
There is no specific time at which an implant will break down or need replacement or removal due to rupture or integrity loss. It helps to view the process as a bell curve. Some implants may last five to 10 years, while others can remain intact for 30 to 40 years. Most implants will fall between these extremes.
Between silicone and saline implants, silicone implants are more durable and will last longer on average than their saline counterparts, all while providing superior results. Interestingly, a patient’s implants will usually “age” at different rates.
How Do You Know if Your Breast Implants Are Ruptured?
Saline implant ruptures do have one clear advantage over silicone ones: it’s very easy to determine if your breast implant has ruptured or lost its integrity. Typically, there will be a very rapid decrease in size of one breast compared to the other. This can occur over a few hours, during which the size difference becomes very obvious. However, many others will notice this change over a few days. Some may take far longer or not even be aware of a difference in size.
Silicone implants don’t really change size and may not have any change in shape. This is especially true for the most recent generations of cohesive silicone implants. Hence, silicone implant ruptures may be more prone to a “silent rupture,” where you have no indication or sign whatsoever that the implant is no longer intact.
There are several methods to evaluate whether or not an implant is intact. While mammograms are not highly accurate in their detection, an MRI or digital ultrasound are the two best approaches.
Signs That You May Need Breast Implant Removal or Breast Implant Replacement
If you aren’t experiencing any complications, your implants are still intact and you’re still happy with your results, there’s generally no need to have your breast implants removed or replaced. If you are experiencing complications, scheduling a consultation and discussing your concerns with a plastic surgeon may be the next step.
Your choice to pursue implant replacement or removal may be purely cosmetic or due to health risks. Common reasons can include:
- Dissatisfaction with present breast size
- Change in your body aesthetics
- An uneven appearance
- Breast asymmetry
- Implant exchange/upgrade
- Implant rupture
- Implant pocket relocation
- Implant malposition
- Pocket configuration issues
- Developing capsular contracture
- Skin rippling or stretching
- Breast sagging
- Contour issues
- Flipped implant
- Infection
- Breast Implant Illness (BII)
If your breast implants are ruptured, it’s strongly recommended to undergo surgical removal with or without a replacement, especially if they are silicone.
Infections are extremely uncommon with cosmetic breast procedures, especially breast augmentations and mastopexy-augmentations. However, they are far more commonly associated with breast reconstruction. In certain cases, infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
If you experience any of these problems, it may be time to consider your breast revision or explantation options with Dr. Turkeltaub.
Schedule Your Breast Implant Surgery Consultation Today in Phoenix
If you are considering breast augmentation, breast lift, revision or removal, the next best step is scheduling a consultation with Dr. Steven Turkeltaub. Dr. Turkeltaub is a board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, specializing in cosmetic breast procedures for patients in Phoenix, Scottsdale and throughout all of Arizona. He and his team will prioritize your safety, satisfaction and excellence in your results.
To schedule your consultation, call (480) 451-3000 or fill out our online contact form.