29 year old saline breast implants - Can saline implants have a slow leak?

Question

I have had saline breast implants for 29 years. I went to get them checked out about 4 years ago, and the doctor I saw said I shouldn't do anything because they looked good. Well, now I am having an aching feeling in my left boob. It's a little sore. The implant feels a little less firm, but I know with Saline, typically, you know when it has leaked. Can Saline implants have a slow leak? Is it dangerous with the age of the breast implants?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear StarCross77,

I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit plastic surgeon for further assessment. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Saline implants can have a small slow leak which manifests as a loss of volume over time. However, the device will eventually go to flat or nearly zero overtime as the fill leaks out and is absorbed by the body. This leakage is not dangerous and will eventually become clinically apparent.

Implants are not lifetime devices. The risk of failure increases with time (by about 1% per year). At 29 years, your implants have outlived most saline devices.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Emily C. Wirtz, MD · Answer

Hello StarCross77, the short answer to your question is that - Yes - saline implants can slowly lose volume over time related to either a very small defect or a problem with the valve through which the implant is originally filled. 29 years is a great lifetime for saline implants, but they wear out over time. Typical rupture risk is 11% at 10 years, and an additional % each year after that. So at 29 years, you have about 30% risk per year of having a rupture or leak. If the breast feels softer or looks a little smaller, you should definitely have an examination by a Plastic Surgeon to evaluate for rupture. Regardless, I would recommend exchange or removal of those implants so that you can have better control over your exchange process. Exchanges due to rupture tend to require more pocket work and are more complicated than straightforward planned exchanges.

Laura Roider, MD · Answer

Typically with saline breast implants if there is a leak your body will absorb the fluid and that breast will "go flat". Depending on how large the defect in the implant is will determine how quickly that fluid will leak. This process is NOT dangerous to your body because the fluid used to fill the implant is sterile, even if it was placed 29 years ago. 
With all of that said, I would recommend you be seen by a Plastic Surgeon if you are experiencing new pain/changes in your implant.

Mehmet Ozdemir, MD · Answer

I hear your concern, and it’s completely valid given that your implants have reached the 29-year mark, which is well beyond the typical 10 to 15-year lifespan we usually see. While saline implants are famous for the "deflation" effect where they flatten almost overnight, it is absolutely possible to have a slow leak through a microscopic pinhole or a failing valve, which might explain that loss of firmness and the localized aching you're feeling. The good news is that saline is just salt water and your body will safely absorb it, but the "danger" isn't the fluid itself; rather, at nearly 30 years old, the shell of the implant can become brittle or develop biofilm issues that cause inflammation. Because you're experiencing new pain and a change in texture, it’s time to move past the "wait and see" approach from four years ago and schedule an evaluation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss imaging or potential replacement, as these symptoms are your body's way of saying the implant has likely reached its limit.

29 year old saline breast implants - Can saline implants have a slow leak?

Answers (5)

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