How long do Breast Implants last?
If you’re considering Breast Implant Surgery or perhaps already have implants, you may be keen to know how long Breast Implants last. There are a lot of facts — and fallacies — around the subject, so it pays to be informed.
For example, there is a common myth that Breast Implants need to be replaced every 10 years, but this is not the case. The lifespan of implants depends on many variables. In this article, we’ll discuss these variables, give you tips on how to look after your implants — and tell you what to look out for if you’re concerned there may be something wrong with your implants.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article.
- What are the signs that my implants need to be replaced?
- Different types of Breast Implants & their durability
- How do you know if your Breast Implants have ruptured?
- How to extend the lifespan of your implants
- how can I find out what type of implant I’ve had?
- Breast implant replacement surgery options
- Implant replacement surgery: how it will affect you
Today’s Breast Implants are incredibly durable and resilient. However, Breast Implants are not expected to last a lifetime, with most implants needing to be replaced at some point. Manufacturers typically provide a lifespan of around 10 to 15 years, but this is just an estimate. (And manufacturers want to be conservative with their estimations.) Some implants will need to be replaced before this estimated time, while others will last well over 20 years.
What are the signs that my implants need to be replaced?
Sometimes, physical changes occur in or around your implants, which may require surgical intervention — this is known as breast revision surgery. Such changes may include:
- A noticeable puckering or wrinkling of the implant
- A change in breast size, shape or symmetry
- Breast pain
- Capsular contracture (an unusually hard ‘capsule’ of scar tissue that starts to harden and contract around the implant)
- Implant rupture
- Excessive sagging of the breast
At other times, individuals choose to have their implants removed or replaced due to personal or lifestyle reasons, such as pregnancy, different life stages, a change in aesthetic preferences, drastic weight changes — or simply gravity has taken its toll on the appearance of their implants. Simply put, our lives and bodies constantly evolve; consequently, what was once appropriate may no longer be so.
Different types of Breast Implants & their durability
The only difference in the durability and lifespan of implants is the materials. It’s vital to note that both silicone and saline implants can rupture.
According to a retrospective analysis of 72 ruptured Breast Implants completed in 2014, saline implants had a shorter average duration of rupture, with rupture diagnosis at an average life span of 5.6 years. The silicone implants ruptured after an average lifespan of 12 years.
How do you know if your Breast Implants have ruptured?
Here’s what to look out for if you think your implants may have ruptured:
Silicone implant ruptures: Ruptures are more challenging to detect with silicone implants, as the silicone material doesn’t move far and stays within the capsule the surgeon creates when placing the implants. Therefore, you might not notice any changes in the look or feel of your breasts. In fact, most implant ruptures do not cause any issues and are typically referred to as “silent”, and are often discovered whilst the breasts are being investigated for other reasons. This is one of the reasons why routine monthly breast self assessments are important.
Saline implant ruptures: You can usually notice the effects of saline implant rupture quite quickly. This is because saline implants are filled with sterile salt water, which is soon harmlessly absorbed by the body. Consequently, one breast may suddenly appear ‘deflated’.
How to extend the lifespan of your implants
Although we can never guarantee how long a Breast Implants will last, there are things you can do though to care for your implants, such as:
- Always wear a supportive bra
- Maintain a stable body weight
Additionally, we recommend you look for any changes in your breasts (and implants). Whether someone has implants or not, it is recommended that every female performs monthly routine breast self assessments. If anything changes at any stage, then a review by your general practitioner would be required to dertemine if any further investigations such as ultrasounds are mammograms are required. Beyond routine self assessments, and age specific routine breast cancer screening, Dr Dona does not recommend any routine annual breast scans to review the implants. If you develop any breast implant changes, you can then discuss them with your surgeon to see if they warrant removal or replacement.
How can I find out what type of implants I’ve had?
If you have Breast Implants but are unsure of the type you received, there are several ways you can find out your implant type:
- Contact your original surgeon (This also applies if you’ve had your implants placed overseas.)
- Call the hospital where you had your surgery (Again, this occurs if your implants were placed overseas) and ask to speak to the medical records department.
- Contact the Breast Implant Registry (BIR) if your surgery was before 2015 or the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR) if your surgery was after 2015.
- BIR: Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) on (02) 9437 9200 or bir@plasticsurgery.org.au
- ABDR: (03) 9903 0205 or 1800 998 722 or abdr@monash.edu
Breast Implant replacement surgery options
If the old implants need to be removed for whatever reasons, then you will have two options:
- Remove and replace with new implants
- Remove without replacement – Explant Surgery
Both of these surgical options may also be associated with the need for a breast lift, and this will depend on the degree of changes to your breats tissue over time and your aesthetic preferences.
Whether you need explant or replacement surgery, the surgical principals will be relatively similar and require the same amount of downtime.
Both procedures require surgery under general anaesthetic and you can go home the same day. During your surgery, the surgeon makes an incision point to remove the existing implants. If your original incision scar was under the breast, the surgeon typically uses this incision point to open the capsule and remove the implant. However, if your original incision point was under the armpit or around your areolar, the surgeon will likely create a new incision in the breast fold to remove the implant.
The surgeon will then remove your old implants. If you’ve had capsular contracture, the surgeon may also have to remove the breast implant capsule (scar tissue around the implant).
Dr Dona prefers to place all implants partially under the muscle, so if you require new implants, he may create a new implant pocket. Dr Dona recommends that all individuals opting for replacement surgery have silicone implants as they are more durable, last longer, and are more natural feeling.
Implant replacement surgery: what to expect
Here’s a quick summary of how implant removal or replacement will affect your everyday life in the immediate and short-term future:
- Hospital: day surgery
- Anaesthesia: general anaesthetic
- Time off work: 1 to 2 weeks
- Time before driving: 1 to 2 weeks
- Time wearing a supportive garment: 6 weeks
- Time before resuming exercise: 6 weeks
- Scars: if your original scar was under your breast, your scar will likely be in the same place. However, if your original incision was under the armpit or around your areola, your surgeon may create a new incision in the breast crease.
References
NSW Health: Information for People with Breast Implants
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/implants/Pages/breast-implants.aspx
A Retrospective Analysis of Ruptured Breast Implants
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4228218/