Breast implants can improve symmetry, enhance your body’s shape, and provide a great confidence boost – but they are not intended to last forever. Most manufacturers state that saline breast implants will likely need to be replaced within ten years. The new cohesive gel breast implants may last substantially longer, but the data is not yet available.
Read more about our Breast Augmentation & Enhancement Surgery.
Does this mean you need to plan a new surgery every decade? Not necessarily. One the one hand, manufacturers of saline implants have shown a 94% deflation rate within ten years. On the other, the first person to receive silicone gel implants had her surgery in the 1960s – and still has the same implants today!
Signs You May Need a Breast Revision
You may need to replace your breast implants if:
- You have saline implants that have deflated,
- An X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI indicates that your silicone implants have a leak,
- You want to change your implant or breast size,
- Your implants have shifted or have “bottomed out”, or the scar tissue around the implants has tightened (a condition known as “capsular contracture”),
- Stretching, weight loss or weight gain, or other events have changed your breast tissue.
What to Do If You Think You Need to Replace Your Breast Implants
First, talk to an experienced breast augmentation surgeon. Your doctor will order any imaging he or she believes is necessary. Ultrasounds or MRI imaging can help you and your doctor see the state of your current implants and make any needed plans to replace them.
Generally speaking, you are a good candidate for a replacement or revision if you are in good health; if you do not smoke; and if you want to address issues with your current breast size, shape, or the results of your original implant procedure.
Planning and preparing for an implant replacement is similar in many ways to having a breast augmentation for the first time. You’ll talk to your cosmetic surgery team about the size, shape, and feel you want to achieve. Your doctor will review the records from your first surgery and make any needed plans to adjust or address certain problems, like scar tissue, sagging, or implants that have moved out of position. You and your doctor will discuss options like implant type, placement, and the incision to be used when replacing your implants. And, of course, you’ll need to plan ahead to take the needed rest and recovery time after your procedure.
For a free, private consultation about your breast augmentation surgery options in Cleveland, please call our team at The Cosmetic Surgery Center at (216) 264-8100.
About Dr. Goldschmidt
Matthew Goldschmidt, MD, FACS is a cosmetic surgeon with an impressive list of academic and professional achievements. He is board certified by two surgical boards which include the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, for body, breast and facial surgery, as well as the Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.