Breast Implants: Q&A

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Breast Implants - How Long Should They Last?

I read a on this site where someone said they had to get their implants re-done 20-some years later. I thought that getting breast implants was a one-time thing...is there an "expiration date" on breast implants? How long do breast implants last?

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21 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Breast implants do not last a lifetime

Breast implants will not last a lifetime, but there is no expiration date, either. For every 2 years that you have a saline implant there is a 3% chance of rupture. For silicone implants the risk of rupture is about 1% for every 2 years. So, in both situations the risk slowly increases with time. In each case, the shell weakens over time due to wear and tear and eventually develops cracks. This is why both companies in the U.S. provide warrantees for their implants.

Breast implant longevity

In my experience, most implants will last approximately 15 years. If your physical exam and/or x rays don't show any change in implants at 15 years, then obviously you would not have to replace them at that point. In the current state of things, though, you can most likely expect to replace your implants at some point in time.

Breast Implant Longevity

Breast implants are not "permanent" devices and do fail over time. This failure may happen in the first couple of years or after several decades. In the last 20 years, implant manufacturing has improved significantly and we are seeing lower rates of rupture than for the implants of the 1980's. As important as the implant rupturing is the changes that occur with your breasts over time. Many women seek revision surgery not for implant failure, but for changes in shape, feel, or... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Is there an expiration date on breast implants?

Hi there- There is no reason to think that implants will "expire" at a certain date after their manufacture. It is true, however, that breast implants should never be thought of as permanent devices- in other words, sooner or later you will need to have them replaced, or to have something else done to maintain the result of your breast surgery. The average lifespan of the modern implants is somewhere between 10 and 20 years- but as mentioned in other posts, both major... more

Age of breast implants

I've had some patients come to me up to 20 years out after breast augmentation with their original silicone implants in place and not having any issues with them. They aren't designed to last for life, in fact, I usually tell patients that in 10 or 15 years they're going to want to lift, tighten or enlarge thier current breasts. The longevity is well worth the price of the implant. Best Wishes, DoctorMeade

Breast implant longevity

While there is no "expiration date" associated with breast implants, every material thing in life, as far as I know, has the potential to fail. Breast implants can rupture over time, and this can happen at various times in the lifespan of the implant. I have seen implants fail after a year, and others over 30 years old be fine. Actually, there are many reasons women come back for further surgery following breast augmentation. You may want a different size, or your breast... more

Breast implants do not last forever

Breast implants made by Mentor and Allergan, the two companies approved by the FDA, are made with strict manufacturing standards. However, no implant lasts forever. Eventually either the valve (in case of saline implant) or the shell (for both saline and silicone implants) will "give away". Both companies have a life time warranty if the implant should fail. There is no way to predict when any implant will fail. However, the rate of leakage will increase with time. more

Breast Implant Durability

Breast implants are medical devices manufactured with extremely high quality standards to maintain durability for many years. But like any man-made device, implants can and do fail for a small percentage of women who have undergone breast augmentation. The majority of women who have breast enlargement enjoy their implants for many years, and a significant number will choose based on personal preference to have their implants replaced with a different implant type (switching from saline to... more

Breast Implants are Not Forever...

Although breast implants are safer and more durable than years past, they may not last forever. Depending upon what age you have your implants placed, you may expect to have at least another surgery in your lifetime. They are a medical device and, unfortunately, medical devices can fail. While failure of your pacemaker may be life-threatening, failure of your implants is not and is very easy to fix. The surgery generally involves opening up your original incision, removing the defective... more

Breast Implants Need To Be Replaced But Only If There is a Problem With Them

Breast implants are not considered to be lifetime devices. As a result, you should expect to have them replaced some time after you get them - but only if you have a problem. If you experience pain or a change in appearance then you should see your surgeon or doctor to make sure they're still okay. Early detection is key here. Although some people believe that breast implants have a 10 year lifespan, this isn't actually true. As mentioned, you only need to replace them if you have a... more

Jerome Edelstein, MD

13 reviews

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Longevity

Breast Implants will not last a lifetime although no expiration exists. The duration for each patient will vary based on the patient's medical conditions, lifestyle, and care. Most implants will last between 10 to 20 years.

How long Do Breast Implants Last

Thank you for the question. Usually breast implants are not a “one time thing”. On the other hand, there is no expiration date on breast implants either. Unfortunately, no one knows what the “average lifespan” of the silicone gel implants is. The breast implant companies report a silicone gel leakage/ rupture rate of about 0.7 to 1% per year. One study showed that 4% of patients had silicone gel leakage over the course of 7 years. Besides leakage of the... more

No expiration on breast implants

There is no expiration date on breast impants. The 3 main reasons to have them re-operated are: 1. they rupture (less then 10% at 10 years) 2. They get hard and painful (less then 10% at 10 years) 3. You want to change the size

How long breast implants last

I tell my patients that once you have a breast implant you will need another surgery in the future, somewhere between 8-10 years. Implants can encapsulate, shift, fail and the breast will age and sag and you will need another surgery for the above.

Breast implant survival

Breast implants are not a life long product. I always tell patients that the literature supports the fact that on average most patients will need at least a 2nd operation sometimes down the road. Yet, I have patients that have had implants for more than 20 years and never had them changed or had any problems with them.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Only reoperate or replace breast implants if necessary

Breast implants are designed to last a long time and frequently women will never need another operation. There certainly is no "expiration date" and no need to replace them after a certain amount of time if they are not causeing any problems. Having said that we do advise women that there is the possibility that reoperation or replacement would be needed if there was a leak that develops. The older the implant gets the more likely a leak will occur. For women having implants... more

Breast implant life span

Breast implants, like all man made creations are NOT permanent. They ALL eventually fail (IE cars, roofs, etc) In the case of breast implants, the silicone shell around either the silicone gel filled OR the saline filled implants, folds and unfolds thousands of times. Eventually, this folding / unfolding creates a weak spot which leaks and the implant deflates. This can be seen the day after surgery (manufacturer's defect) or over 20 years after surgery. Either way - both implant producers... more

Longevity of Breast implants

Breast implants are manufactureded to very high standards. One can not assume though, that they will last your whole life. There is a finite warranty time, but in general, you will most likely not replace them unless there is a problem in the future.

How long do breast implants last?

In general breast implants are not lifetime devices. The manufacturers provide warranties for deflation. I always counsel my patients that they in all likelihood will have future surgery if they have breast implants. It could be because of deflation/leaking or capsular contracture or for other reasons. The Allergan Style 410 silicone implant which is currently under FDA investigation has a lower leak rate than silicone gel implants and might last longer that currently available implants. We... more

Breast implant longevity varies

Hello, Breast implants do not last forever, but they do not expire either. They wear and the body may react to them which can require re-operation. Silicone gel implants are more subject to tissue reaction and (in my opinion) require more surgery over the long term. Saline implants may break and deflate. Either way, the life span, if you take these things into account, is around 10-15 years.

Breast Implants may last a lifetime

There are many reasons why you may require another operation but not necessarily. There is no implant "expiration date." If you remain pleased with your appearance and no complications arise, it is possible that your implants may last a lifetime. Good Luck!