I have had breast implants for 14 years. How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Most breast implants will last a lifetime. 

There is a common misconception that implants will only last 10 years. This is not true. If you have no problem with your implant then nothing needs to be done with them. The only reason you would change an implant is if there is a problem with them. The most common long term problem is implant rupture. The risk of a rupture is 1% a year. So the risk of having a broken implant at the end of 10 years is 10%. That means that 90 % of implants will be fine at 10 years. The other common misconception is that saline implants are more likely to rupture than gel. This is not true. The rupture rate is the same for saline and cohesive gel implants because the outer shell of both type of  implants are virtually the same .

So most women will live their whole lives with their original implants and will never require additional surgery.

This is acommon question as I often have patients come into the office because they havehad their breast implants for over ten years and want to change them. I always discuss with patients what theactual reason is for changing the implants. If the only reason is because the implants are over ten years, but theyoverall still love their breasts I would tell them to keep them. I would not change them just because you havereached a certain year mark.

However ifpatients have other concerns about their breasts (they have fallen because ofkids, etc) then we should change the implants. I would not do surgery on a woman’s breast with implants over ten yearold and not change them if we are going to be in surgery already.

So the shortanswer is you do not have to change your implants because of certain year mark,but if you need a secondary surgery and your implants are over ten years old, Iwould advise changing them at the time of your surgery.

Please consultyou board certified plastic surgeon for further information.

Implants only need to be replaced if there is a problem.  The common reasons for implant replacement are deflation, tight scars (capsular contracture), implant malposition, or a desire to change the implant size.  You definitely need to find out why there is a change in the way your breast feels.

Implants last a very long time, but they are not a lifetime device. I have rarely seen an implant rupture that is less than 10 years old. The oldest implant that I have personally exchanged that was still intact was 44 years old! A number of women think that every 10 years the implants need to be exchanged. Although that concept is prevalent in the community, it is not what is currently recommended by plastic surgeons.The most important thing is that the patient perform monthly exams, and get their mammogram as indicated. I like to see my patients yearly as well. With most patients choosing silicone implants, a rupture is difficult to detect by physical exam alone. I have seen screening mammograms detect a rupture, but a breast MRI is the gold standard test for detecting a ruptured implant.I would suggest additional surgery when the patient has a known rupture, a capsule that is making the breast feel firm or a change in desired size. Otherwise, if the exam is normal and the patient is satisfied with her appearance, I would leave an aging implant alone. Best of luck!

In general, there is no clear cut answer to the longevity of breast implants or recommendation regarding a suitable time frame for implants to be replaced. Despite multiple clinical studies from different implant brands and manufacturers, it's realistic to understand breast implants are still regarded as "medical devices" for which there is always possibility of failures or complications. While the "modern" breast implants are more reliable in its technology development, it would be prudent to consult your surgeon if there is any concerning symptoms which may require further investigation & assessment in determining the appropriate management plan. 

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Ellis Choy

Thank you for your question. First of all, you should definitely see your surgeon to discuss the rash and sensation of air pockets.As for breast implant replacement. Breast implants that were placed 15-20 years ago are starting to need replacement. This can be from either deflation (saline implants) or from rupture (silicone). Capsular contracture is another cause for requiring replacement. The newer silicone implants, fifth generation, are considered "gummy bear" implants. These implants likely have a much longer longevity than older third and fourth generation implants. The implant manufacturers have also offered better warranties with these newer implants. Most breast implant manufacturers now offer a lifetime warranty. If the implant is returned as ruptured, they will cover the cost of new implants.I hope this helps.- Dr. Bryson Richards (Board Certified Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)

With regards to replacing implants there is no expiration date
per se on breast implants, but they are not considered a lifetime device. That
being said, the concept that implants have to be replaced every 10 years is
inaccurate in my opinion. I feel that a range of 10-15 or possibly even 20
years is reasonable for most implants particularly with modern 5th
generation silicone gel implants. Any implant can have problems and sometimes
implants need to be replaced much sooner than 10 years if there is a rupture or
a leak with either silicone or saline implants. Saline implants when they leak
can be detected by a deflated appearing breast whereas silicone implants
generally would need a MRI to check and see if the implant is intact. As far as
the rash and the change in the feel of the implant, a rash would not normally
be associated with a rupture and it is difficult to know what exactly is
causing it. This type of medical situation is best handled by an examination by
a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in order to have a better understanding of
what medical process is occurring. With 14 year old implants, it is certainly
possible that you could have a rupture and at the very least, it would be a
wise decision to have the breast checked.

Many women tell me that they read somewhere or heard that breast implants need to be replaced in 10 years.  This is not true.  The warranty period is 10 years.  I suspect that some women may believe that if the warranty is for 10 years this is how long the implants last.In fact, breast implants last much longer than 10 years in the majority of my patients.  If you have no problems, there is no need to replace them.  On the other hand, if you suspect a deflation, or if the shape seems to have changed, or there is a lot of rippling, changing out the implants is advisable, even before 10 years.The large rash under your left breast is not likely to be caused by the implant itself.  It could be intertrigo.  The underside of the breasts can be a moist area and yeast infections can develop and require treatment with a topical antiyeast cream (such as Lotrisone).  You should definitely have this rash evaluated.  The air pockets are not likely to be actual air pockets because the body absorbs air, but this problem needs to be checked too.  Perhaps it is rippling of your implant.If you like, you can read more at my website.  I've attached a link.

It is not certain where the “you
have to replace your breast implants every 10 years” come from. The warranty
used to be 10 years, but now the warranty for silicone is lifetime. If you are
not having a problem, there is no need to replace them. “Don’t fix what isn’t
broken.” Having said that, it would be silly to claim that you will never
need surgery on your breasts again after having implants. Our bodies keep
changing as we get older, the implants only change if their position changes or
they leak/rupture. Almost everyone who has a breast augmentation will want or
need something done in the future.

Ok that a really good and difficult question.  There reason is because there is no real answer.  There is whats recommended and there is what people do.  Recommendations are to replace them every 10-15yrs as they are devices and like all devices they have a life span and can break or malfunction.  Now that being said I have had patients that have had their implants in for years and seem to be doing ok.  The idea is to change them before they become an issue rather than when they become an issue.  Similar to tires you want to replace them before they rupture while you are driving on the freeway.  With saline if they rupture you will know quickly but silicone it may take some time.  While silicone is not dangerous, removing a ruptured implant is more difficult and well....frankly messy. Therefore no perfect answer.  Hope that helpsDr Rahban

Saline implants don't need to be replaced until the patient decides that she is no longer satisfied with the way they look or feel. If there is a major leak, it will be obvious and the implant can be replaced. If there is a very gradual leak, this doesn't matter until the look or feel of the implant changes enough to warrant a replacement surgery. Remember that it's only water that is leaking, so if you aren't unhappy with the implants, don't worry about slow, gradual leaks. Some saline implants have problems and need to be replaced within a year, while others may last for decades.Silicone implants are a little more difficult to assess. A silicone implant may leak without any change in the size or appearance of the breast, since the silicone is still there. Many physicians feel that silicone implants don't need to be changed until the look or feel is unsatisfactory. According to the FDA, which regulates implants as well as medications, an MRI of the breasts should be performed every other year starting in year 3. An MRI can determine whether silicone has leaked outside the shell of the implant. If there is leakage on the MRI, the implants can be replaced. As with saline implants, silicone implants can have problems within a year, or may last for decades. In your specific case, it would likely be reasonable to replace your implants. If you feel air pockets, pain, etc. a revision surgery could be helpful. There's no guarantee that replacing the implants will improve the pain or rash, but it's probably worthwhile to try at this point. A board-certified plastic surgeon can evaluate you in person and help you to devise a logical plan.