When Will I Need to Replace My Breast Implants?

April 30th, 2024 | Posted in: Breast Implants |

Close-up of a tanned woman with manicured fingers wearing a black bra and cupping her breasts in her hands.

For years, doctors and surgeons have recommended replacing your breast implants every ten years, regardless of if you are experiencing complications. However, your implants may be able to last much longer than that. This blog will discuss why it is unnecessary to replace your implants after ten years if there are no issues and mention the main reasons people need their implants removed, such as capsular contracture and bottoming out. This blog will give patients more insight into their implants’ possible lifespan.

4 Min Read:

What Is Breast Augmentation?

For many individuals, perky, voluptuous breasts are the hallmark of feminine curves. However, some women are dissatisfied with their breasts, whether it’s because they’ve always had small or asymmetrical breasts or because pregnancy, weight loss, aging, or other factors have caused their breasts to lose volume.

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure designed to increase breast size with silicone or saline implants or via fat transfer to breasts. Most breast augmentation patients report increased satisfaction with their body and improved quality of life following this transformative procedure.

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

The average lifespan of breast implants today is anywhere between 10 and 20 years, although some women can have their implants in for longer than 25 years.

Breast implants do not have an expiration date; however, the FDA does not consider them lifetime devices. Any given patient can keep implants for as long as she’s satisfied with them, given no complications develop. It is important to maintain communication with your surgeon and to have regular screenings to monitor the health of your implants.

What is Breast Revision Surgery?

Although many patients are satisfied with the results of their initial breast augmentation surgery for many years, there are instances where an individual may desire a breast revision surgery. The goal of a breast revision is to replace old breast implants with new ones. Additionally, this surgery often includes updating the implant material, reshaping the breast implant pocket to improve the position of the implant on the chest, and changing the implant’s shape, size, or style.

Reasons for a breast revision can include:

Patient desire to change breast size
Change in implant material
Complications or pain from capsular contracture, rupture, or migration of the implant

How Do I Know When My Breast Implants Need to be Replaced?

There are several indicators that you should consider a breast revision. If you notice a change in the look or feel of your breasts, contact your physician right away.

Capsular Contracture

During the normal healing process after a breast augmentation, the body forms scar tissue, called a capsule, around the breast implant. However, sometimes, the body rejects the implant and creates excessive scar tissue around it. This overproduction of scar tissue is called capsular contracture, and it is one of the most common complications with breast implants. It can result in pain, distortion of the breasts’ appearance, and firmness to the touch.

During a breast revision, your surgeon will remove the old implants and the scar tissue and insert a new implant if you wish.

Implant Rupture

Whether by accident or due to wear and tear, an implant may rupture or tear, causing it to leak. For saline implants, a rupture is immediately noticeable as it causes a deflation of the breast. The saline solution in the implant is absorbed by the body safely. For silicone implants, however, an ultrasound or MRI is usually necessary to diagnose a rupture because the thicker silicone material leaks slowly and may go unnoticed.

A rupture is not life-threatening, but it is crucial to remove the damaged implant to prevent the development of infection or excessive scar tissue.

Implant Malposition

There are various reasons for the malposition, or shifting, of a breast implant.

Bottoming Out: If the breast tissues cannot support the breast implant, the implant may sink below the breast crease. Unlike breasts that naturally sink over time, bottomed-out breast implants can cause nipples to face upwards.
Displacement: While settling into a slightly different position after surgery is normal, it is not normal for breast implants to shift dramatically on the chest. Implant displacement can manifest in various ways, such as the implants moving away from the midline of the chest (lateral displacement) or merging in the middle of the chest (symmastia).
Large Implant Pocket: If the implant pocket is too large, this can cause the implant to rotate or even slip into the armpit.

Patient Preference Change

If you are dissatisfied with the results of your initial breast augmentation, you may be a candidate for a breast revision. Some common preference changes patients have include: