Do breast implants have and expiration date? Do they need to be replaced?

I know of several women who received implants and have never had to change them. It is a myth that implants must be changed every 10 years. Generally, if you don't have a problem with your implants and haven't noticed any pain or a change in appearance, then there is no need to replace them. However, because you have noticed recently that your implant feels different and are experiencing pain, you should see your surgeon as soon as possible. You may be developing a complication. It is important to note that while changes tend to be more obvious with saline implants, silicone implants that rupture may not be as noticeable and remain undetected for a longer time.You should visit your surgeon or doctor regularly so that they may also examine you to make sure your implants are in good condition. 

There is no set rule as to when you should change your implants. Your implants, whether they are Allergan (McGhan) or Mentor (J&J) are warranteed for your lifetime in case of deflation or rupture. You should try not to stress or change your lifestyle to try to avoid implant failure.

Implants do not have an expiration date. They can fail over time averaging about 1% or less. Just live your life and if they fail, you address it. Saline devices will deflate, gel devices may not present any signs if they fail. Detection of gel failure is with an MRI and soon an ultrasonic method.

They do not have an expiration date once implanted but there are FDA recommendations for surveillance and potential replacement every 13 years. That said, most people do not replace them like a regular maintainance schedule and there are no ill effects. There are no artificial devices (knees, hips, ports or Breast Implants) that  last forever. The expiration date on a sealed box is more related to a implant sitting on the shelf in a sterile packaging

Breast implants, once placed in the body, do not have an expiration date.  Many women are under the misperception that implants have to be replaced every 10 years.  While the manufacturer warranties the implants for 10 years, they are designed to last far longer.

Remember that these are man-made devices and will probably not last as long as you do.  Most saline implants eventually deflate, and most silicone gel implants eventually rupture.  The majority of breast implants probably will last between 10 and 20 years.

It is important to understand that most women undergoing breast augmentation will eventually experience an implant failure that requires implant removal and replacement.

After the moratorium on silicone gel implants was reversed in November 2006, many of my patients who have saline implants called to ask whether they should "trade up" to silicone gel implants. I think this represents a general perception that breast implants are man made devices and as such have a finite life span and will need to be replaced for any of the following reasons: a) implant leakage; b) desire for size and/or style (shape & filler composition. Patients generally don't choose to have surgery unless they are dissatisfied with the shape, size, feel of their breasts, position of their nipples, etc.
All breast implant patients receive implant information cards, which document the manufacturer, style number, serial number and the volume of saline added, or the volume of gel. Gel implants patients are tracked by the manufacturers and need to return to their implanting surgeons at regularly scheduled appointments. Some PS register their saline breast implant patients in a registry, which is overseen by the ASPS. Once the implant is placed, the implant doesn't need to be replaced unless there is a problem. Saline implants will not "grow" anything inside them. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Hello,
Breast implants do not have a defined expiration date once they are placed. Unless there is a specific problem such as implant rupture or scar tissue formation around the implants (capsular contracture,) breast implants do not need to be removed at any particular time.

Implants are not meant to be lifetime devices but they can leak if they are saline or the shell may crack if they are silicone. Both cases would indicate a need to replace one or both implants. I tell my patients proper follow-up and care of your breasts and implants is very important but basically, if they are not broken, don't fix them.
Dr Edwards

Breast implants do not expire, though some time in your life they are likely to wear and leak and will be in need of replacement. Implants can begin to leak after seven years though ten to twelve years without problems is very possible.
How a leak is handled depends on what type of implant you are wearing. In patients who have selected a saline implant in augmentation, the implant can literally be left alone until it wears out. When a fracture of tear occurs in the saline implant the salt water is absorbed and the breast will go flat so to speak. At that time the implant should be quickly replaced so that the pocket shape is maintained. You never need to think about a saline implant until the leak occurs, and some implants can go on for many years, even twenty.
The gel implant too will develop tears or leaks. The FDA has made recommendations to patients to begin MRI studies three years after the implants are in place, and regularly thereafter to detect implant leaks, as when the leak occurs the implant will not lose volume and the leak can go undetected for several years. The gel material will stay around within the pocket and over time cause tenderness and a hardening of the implant (capsule contracture) . The capsule will develop calcifications and the implant and capsule will need removal when the implant is replaced. We advise patients that the MRI tests are expensive, and that false positive and false negative interpretations do occur. You might consider that after ten years when the likelihood of a gel leakage becomes high to consider the implant "expired". Certainly removal of a soft intact gel implant with replacement is much easier and less expensive than after a leak and contracture has set in.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd

There is no stated expiration date by which you need to exchange them. On the other hand, manufacturers state that the implants are not lifelong devices and can be subject to leakage or rupture and thus may need to be replacement. Usually there is a warranty with the implants and even an extended warranty through which you can purchase additional benefits. Discuss the circumstances under which your implants might need to be removed with your surgeon