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How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

I have had breast implants for 14 years and I am now developing a large rash under my left breast, and it hurts and I feel alot of air pockets. One doctor told me to replace them every 10 years and another told me you never have to replace them

Asked 44 months ago by Pamela Ashworth

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duration last replacement

+12

Breast implant replacement

There is no expiration date for breast implants, and I have seen patients that have had breast implants trouble-free for as many as 30 years. Nonetheless most breast implants are not lifetime devices, and I tell my patients that we hope that their implants will last approximately 15 years on average. As people’s bodies change over time they sometimes request other breast operations, including those to change the size of their implants or lift their breasts.

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John K. Wakelin III, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast Augmentation: Can Breast Implants Last a Lifetime?

While breast implants do have the possibility of lasting a lifetime, the implant manufacturers do not consider them 'lifetime devices' as the possibility exists that over time the outer shell will fail. Saline breast implant failure is quite obvious when it occurs, for when a saline implant leaks, the saline solution is quickly absorbed by the body and the 'deflated' side immediately looks smaller than the intact side. Several large studies have shown saline implant... more

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Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Generally there is no expiration date.

As most of the other doctors have mentioned - Implants do not necessarily need to be changed out at any interval. The numbers you hear people talk about are based on averages of people that have had the implants replaced. The most often cited number is (again... on average) every 10-15 years people will need an additional operation for their breast augmentation. Now that number is based on surgeries for all reasons - ruptured implants, want larger implants, have capsular contracture, just... more

Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Usually 10-15 years

Patients who see their doctors annually have their implants in an average of 10-15 years. However, that doesn't mean they need to be replaced during that interval; many patients have their implants even longer and are problem-free. However when problems such as the ones described here come up, it is imperative to see your doctor to have an examination.

Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Today's Improved Breast Implants Should Last Many Years

Breast Implants are now designed to last for decades but not considered lifetime devices. Deflation rates are only about 1% per year. Most patients will never need replacement for this reason. I tell my patients that even after 15 years of practice, I see very few deflations and rarely change an implants for this reason. On the other hand, I also let them know that many women who have breast augmentation will need another operation sometime in their lives for age related breast... more

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David L. Mobley, MD

Sarasota Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Replacing Breast Implants

There really is not need to replace them if you are not having any issues. The implants have a lifetime warranty and could perhaps last that long but most often revisional surgery is needed to perhaps perform a lift or go larger or smaller. At that point most surgeons would replace the implants given the fact that you are in the operating room and under anesthesia. Most patients at this point desire to change size and some perhaps want to switch to silicone implants from saline. Hope that... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

No set rule as when to change breast implants

It is impossible to tell someone exactly how long their implants may last. It is possible that it could be for a lifetime. However, I tell my patients that they should not have breast implants placed unless they are open to having another surgery some time in their lifespan. Patients do need to understand that breast implants can 'fail', i.e., a saline implant can deflate and a silicone implant can 'rupture'. One will readily notice if their saline implant is deflating as their breast... more

Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

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Breast implant exchange myth

There is no time limit as to when or if you need to exchange your breast implants. I have heard from patients that they have heard that breast implants need to be changed every 10 years. The only reason you need to exchange your breast implants is if you are having a problem with them or if you'd like to change the size. Some of the potential complications that may arise would be deflation, capsular contracture, bottoming out, or just size change. If you are happy with the size of... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

There is No Expiration Date!

Breast implants are not like cartons of milk, there is no expiration date. Implants do fail in time, as they are man made devices and all eventaully will. Saline and gel devices have individual rates of failure and to make it easy average around 1% per year. This means in 20 years there is a 20% , or 1 in 5 chance of failure. At 50 years, there is a 50% chance. So just determine the odds. There is no date to change the implants, if they fail, change them. For saline devices it is easy to... more

Michael S. Beckenstein, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Implant replacement is a personal choice, just like the original procedure

Great question Pamela. As you can see from the many responses there's an overall consensus about the stability and durability of both the saline and gel implants. Anything man/woman/machine made has a potential for failure, since nothing in our body remains stable for very long. The implant replacement issue was very prevalent during the early years of breast augmentation and before the newer 'models' were redesigned after the 10 yr moratorium by the FDA. Back then we had... more

Antonio M. Carbonell, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Only necessary to replace a breast implant if shell is ruptured

You should return to your plastic surgeon to have the rash under the breast properly evaluated. The rash could be heat related, but it is not possible to determine this without an evaluation. Typically, we tell our patients that a breast implant is not a permanent device. Some will eventually fail. With a saline implant there is no question if it is leaking, the breast will gradually decrease in size. Eventually, over a 3 - 6 week period all fo the saline will leak out. This is not a... more

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Replacing your implants... or not!

Like any device in medicine or, in fact, life for that matter, breast implants can fail after a period of time. This may be in the form of a rupture of the outer shell of the implant, causing the saline or silicone to leak out. With saline breast implants, the saline is absorbed by your body without a problem, and your affected breast becomes “deflated” or smaller again. With silicone gel implants, however, your body does not absorb the leaking silicone in the same way, and... more

Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Replacing Breast Implants - Saline vs. Silicone

Breast implants are not lifetime devices. However, they do not need to be changed unless they have ruptured. A typical implant will last over 10yrs. I have seen some that have lasted over 25-30yrs. With saline-filled implants the diagnosis is easier. The saline that leaks out of the implant is reabsorbed by your body, then the implant will deflate and your breast size will return to its pre-augmentation size. The saline is safe. At that point you will need to consult with your plastic... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast implants do not require a replacement or maintenance schedule

Breast implants do not require "scheduled maintenance" or replacement every 10 years. In general, it is not necessary to do anything but enjoy them unless they cause a problem. In your case, pain and new "air bubbles" probably warrants and evaluation by your plastic surgeon as these symptoms may indicate an issue with the your implants

Elizabeth Lee, MD

Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast implants do not have to be replaced every ten years unless there is a complication.

If you are seeing a rash, you will need to see your Doctor to determine if this is implant related. Replacing implants every ten years is a myth, although warranty coverage may only last for ten years, If you have a rupture in a saline implant, you will know because the implant will deflate. Detecting ruptures in silicone implants is a little more difficult and requires an MRI or an ultrasound, whichever your surgeon recommends. Do, however, get this checked asap... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

When Should You Replace an Implant?

There really is no expiration date for implants that are not causing problems. For a period of time, plastic surgeons and breast implant manufacturers advised consideration of elective replacement of silicone gel implants after 10 years. With the newer highly cohesive gel implants (sometimes called "Gummy Bear" implants or form-stable implants), the implant manufacturers and many plastic surgeons have discontinued recommending elective replacement every 10 years... more

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Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

There is no expiration date on your breast implants

Your breast implants are designed to last forever. Unfortunately, they probably won't. There are three major reasons to change out implants: 1. Implant failure: In the case of saline, this is generally obvious when the implants deflate. In the case of silicone gel, an MRI is often necessary to detect implant rupture. Implant failure is the most common reason for changing out your implants. 2. Capsular contracture: If your breasts become excessively... more

Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Replacement of Breast Implants and How long Breast Implants Last

When to replace breast implants is a very complex topic. There are a number of reasons to replace implants. They include: 1.Rupture 2.Capsular Contracture 3.Rippling 4.Size Change 5. Changing between silicone and saline There is no recommended interval at which you must change your implants. We always advise our patients that breast implants are not lifetime devices and therefore you should expect to replace them at least once in your life. For... more

Neil J. Zemmel, MD

Richmond Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Longevity and replacement of breast implants

Saline and silicone implants have a deflation/rupture rate of about 10% during the first decade after they are inserted. Some women are fortunate and can go 10-20 years with implants, while others are unfortunate and can experience a deflation in the first year or two. The chances that you will have a "reoperation" after your initial surgery is about 25% in the first 10 years. This means one our of every four patients will have another breast surgery in the first decade. This is... more

William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Implants have different lifespans

There is no set time that an Implant will last without rupturing. However, here is what I have observed after 23 years of experience: Silicone Implants last longer than Saline Implants. I have seen women with intact Silicone Implants after 25 years. Saline I've seen last as long as 17 years. Smooth Surfaced Implants last longer than Textured Surface Implants. With regards to Implant Replacement, I have 2 suggestions: Leave the Implants alone and only replace them if they rupture or... more

Christopher Costanzo, MD

Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lifespan of Breast Implants

The decision of replacing implants depends on your type of breast implants (saline vs. silicone). Your breast implants can be replaced when the implants fail. This can be 5 years, 10 years or even 30 years.The detection of a fail saline implant is very simple. The breast with the failed breast implant will deflate. When this happens, the breast implant will need to be replaced. The same applies to silicone implants. owever, the failure of silicone implants is harder to detect, since the... more

T.Y. Steven Ip, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast implants replaced when needed

Breast implants are designed to be left in for a lifetime. With that said they all have an approximately 1%/year rate of rupture. And studies have indicated that a majority of women who undergo breast augmentation will need another surgery within 25 years. Now that doesn't mean necessarily due to rupture. Women will often need another surgery because the breasts have changed.So unless you have a problem you don't need to change the implants. Since you are having issues see your plastic... more

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Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Yours sound like they may need to be replaced

There is no expiration date for breast implants-- some patients need them replaced within a few years, others never need them replaced. But based on what you're describing, you may very well need them exchanged. I would consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss what your options on, including what type of implant to now use (saline versus silicone, for example).

Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Experience will vary

The average lifespan of implants manufactured in the US is 10-15 years, and the most common reasons they would need to be replaced are because they rupture, or because of capsular contracture (firmness and shrinkage of the connective tissue surrounding the implant) which may or may not cause discomfort and/or distortion of the breast. If you are having problems- whether that be dissatisfaction with the changes in appearance of the breasts, pain, or loss of volume, I would consult your Board... more

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Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

When Implant issues arise professional evaluation essential

Given the signs and symptoms described in this question, along with the amount of time the implants have been in place I recommend a prompt evaluation by a board-certified Plastic Surgeon experienced in the use of implants in breast surgery. While general statements about the lifespan of implants generally hold true the specific circumstances referenced here require investigation, independent of how long the implants have been in place.