I Have 12 Year Old Silicone Implants and Am Considering Replacement Before I Experience Problems?

I'm thinking with the newer types this would hopefully be the last pair I would need. I am 43.

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by marieclaire

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12 year old implants

If there are no problems with the implants, then you should not worry to have anything more done at this time.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

12 year old implants

If you are happy with your implants they do not necessarily need to be exchanged. If you think you are having problems, an examination by your doctor and mammogram may be indicated. Being examined yearly would probably serve you best.

Changing breast implants

You do not need to change your implants but you should expect that something may occur in the future that changes the way that your breasts appear/function that may require you to remove/replace your breast implants. In general breast implants are said to have a 'lifetime' of about 7-10 years. This means that on average, after 7-10 years the implants will 'fail' or produce some sort of complication that will encourage you to change them. These include anything... more

?Remove normal implants at 12 years.

There was a time that surgeons recommended that their patients exchange implants at ten years. I still see patients who have moved to my locale or whose previous surgeons retired who present with completely satisfactory results saying they are ready to have the implants replaced. Although most of these patients had saline, some had silicone. My usual suggestion is not to have surgery unless there is something they want to change--size, position, lift, etc. This is not... more