Deciding whether or not to have breast implants is not an easy thing. It’s a big investment (in time and money) but it can help you achieve a better feminine look and boost self-image. That being said, it’s good to know that there’s such a thing called “breast implant lifespan” and that they don’t last forever.
Since breast implants don’t last forever, many women make the decision of removing them 10 or 20 years after their had their initial surgery. Before you decide to have the surgery, your surgeon will go over some of the basics of the procedure, post-op checkups and care which should ensure that your breast implants last long.
What is the breast implant lifespan?
Cosmetic surgeons recommend breast implants if you wish to enhance your breast or provide them a youthful and more appealing look. Now even though breast implants are safe and should last a long time, they aren’t considered to be “lifetime devices”.
The average breast implants lifespan is said to be more than a decade, although the chance of damage, decade and rupture increases over time. The older the implant is, the higher the chances are for some complications.
Sometime, the breast implant lifespan can exceed even 20 years, and they are still in good shape. It depends on many factors, and it’s different for each patient. It depends on your body and of course how you take care of your implants.
Why should you replace or remove your implants?
As we mentioned before, the older the implant, the higher the chances are of complications. The most common complications are:
Capsular contracture (breast hardening): When the scar tissue around one or both breasts start to harden, it can cause pain, breast tightness, change in the shape and size of your breasts.
Rupture: If you have saline implants and they rupture, the saline will leak quickly and the breast implants will deflate. The saline is harmless to your body (it will be absorbed by the surrounding tissue) but your breasts will lose shape, size and one can end up looking very differently than the other.
If you have silicone implants, instead of saline, the rupturing is called “the silent rupture” because it happens very differently than with saline implants. The change in breast size, shape is not that sudden, since the implants are filled with thick silicone. The silicone can linger in the surrounding tissue and it’s not easy to tell if the implant has ruptured or not. But if you do notice a change in breast sizes, change in sensation (tingling, swelling, burning etc.) you should contact your surgeon and have it examined. He will definitely be able to determine the cause.
Implant rippling: Over time, as implants get older, they can develop ripples or wrinkles. They can be felt and in rare cases even seen through the skin
Change in position: Even though implants can restore the youthful and firm look of your breasts, they cannot stop the aging process. So in time, your breasts will start to sag and the breast implants might change their position. This will of course, change the look and shape of your breasts which can be restored through breast lift or implant replacement.
Personal preference: After a while, some women would like to change their appearance and the look of their breasts. This can be done through revision surgery, if they want to change the size of their implants, or through implant removal.
Breast implant lifespan – Replacement or Removal
After a while, when your breast implants have reached the end of their lifespan, you can choose between a few options for breast implant removal. You can:
- Remove the implants
- Remove the implants and do a breast lift surgery
- Remove the implants and the hard scar tissue that has formed over the years or
- Replace the implants with new ones (same size, bigger or smaller)
Before committing to having a breast implant procedure, make sure that you schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, see if this is the right choice for you and what can you expext in 10 or 20 years.
