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.

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)

Most silicone and saline implants are FDA approved for 10 years. This means that you should get them replaced after 10 years. If you keep your implants longer, they can rupture, leak, deflate, and most importantly capsular contracture can occur. This means that scar tissue develops to surround the implants. Best wishes.