Breast Implants over 26 Yrs Old. I Am 71 and They Now Bother Me, What to Do?

asked 6 months ago by Jasmine71 in Lexington, VA
Latest answer by Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Question viewed 260 times
Tags: 30 years post-op, options

71 years old, had breast implants @ 34 yrs old. Now they are bothering me. See on x-ray the leakage. I can no longer sleep on stomach. They hurt and ache from time to time. They are almost rock hard. Should I just leave them alone or what? Just went for chest x-ray and tech pushed down hard and I yelled! It hurt.

11 answers to Breast Implants over 26 Yrs Old. I Am 71 and They Now Bother Me, What to Do?

Managment of 30 year old silicone implants

With implants in for that period of time in conjunction with the symptoms you are experiencing, the implants need to be removed. It is up to you and your surgeon to determine if this can be paired with implant replacement and/or a breastlift. Oftentimes insurance will pay for removal of the implants and the surrounding scar tissue which is uncomfortable. Note - if you would like and you are a good candidate, consider implant replacement and anything else you might be interested in! more

Michele A. Shermak, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Leaking implants

Your pain is not caused by the leaking but rather because there are capsules of scar tissue which formed around the implants. If you are able to pass medical clearance for surgery, I could recommend removing the implants and cleaning up the capsules. The decision of whether to reaugment or perform a breast lift would take into consideration your needs, finances and other concerns.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Older/painful breast implants?

Thank you for the question. There is no question in my mind, assuming you are in good health and can tolerate a brief surgical procedure, that you should have the implants removed. Whether you choose to replace them is a personal decision. Your implants have leaked, have encapsulated and are causing you significant discomfort and probably interfering with the quality of your mammograms as well. I would suggest consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Hard, painful, older breast implants

It sounds like you have severe capsular contracture. In cases like yours, I would recommend removing the implants with or without replacement. This is a relatively straightforward operation. It could possibly be done with local anesthesia with mild sedation in a board certified plastic surgeons office skilled in local anesthetic for this kind of thing.

York Jay Yates, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Painful Implants

It sounds like the best option for you is to have the implants removed. Depending on your health and anatomy, you may want to consider having them replaced at the time of removal. Or you can choose have no replacement. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Old implants

Of course have them removed!! whether you have them replaced or not is another matter. please go to a qualifies surgeon to help you make that decision

Jonathan Saunders, MD
Newark Plastic Surgeon

www.drjonathansaunders.com

Breast Implants over 26 Yrs Old. I Am 71 & They Now Bother Me, What to Do?Answer:

It’s time to have a sit down with a Board Cert Plastic Surgeon and go over all your options. It really depends on your goals and your health. Options range from removal of the implants and their capsules, to putting new ones back in, to having a lift done as well. But it does require some thought and a nice long talk with a surgeon that you trust and feel comfortable with. But with the pain and the leaking, I think it’s time to get them addressed..

John J. Corey, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants that are 26 years old

I would remove these implants. you will be more comfortable: remove and replace remove alone remove and lift remove, replace and lift

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Implants and pain

More than likely you have capsular contracture based upon your description. You should have an evaluation and consider removal or replacement. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants over 26 Yrs Old. I Am 71 and They Now Bother Me, What to Do?

You need evaluation, mammogram, MRI and than possible removal/replacement surgery. seek medical care.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Removing Breast Implants Later in Life

Breast Augmentation is a cosmetic operation that help many women feel better about their breast shape and size. If you no longer want the advnatages of the implants or if you have gained more of your own breast volume after 25 years - removing them certainly can be done. Many times, after removing the implants - you could have a fair amount of sag that can be dealt with by a breast lift ( MAstopexy). Implant capsules, breast pain from the capsules, or leaking breast implants... more