I have 30 year old implants. What is shelf life? Should I be planning replacement or removal?

Question

I have 30 yr old implants. No symptoms, no concerns. At 20 yrs old, my breasts were very small & uneven. I wanted to fix them and make a little bigger. I have one silicon implant & one saline implant. They still look good. My concern is the shelf life of the implants. I am afraid of rupture. I am diabetic & have rheu arthritis and concerned about surgery. Should I remove the implants and just have surgeon pretty up whats there? Should I be concerned about age of implants?

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, saline and silicone breast implants have a shelf life.  Every implant comes with an expiration date but this does not have to do with when the implant breaks apart; it denotes how long the implant stays sterile and by when the breast implant manufacturer recommends it should be put in the human body before that expiration date is up. Once it's inside your body, there is no set rule. In general, if you're not having a problem, you can just follow up with your surgeon yearly.In general the scientific studies have shown that the breast implant deflation rate is 1% to 2% per year per life of the implant. Most surgeons tell patients that it can last 10 to 15 years but some patients can leak a few months after surgery and some people have had them 20 to 30 years. Again, there's no way to tell. The breast implant companies warranty the implants for life though.  This does not mean that the replacement surgery is free. Patients usually have to pay the anesthesia, surgery center, breast implants and surgeon fees at time of replacement. Then the leaking implant is sent for study to the implant manufacturer. When they study it, if they feel the case is legit, then they will cut the replacement cost of only the breast implant check and send it to the patient. What I do for my patients when they have a leaking implant, I typically charge them half price for my fee if I've done the original breast implant surgery.I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of breast implants. Good luck with your future surgery!I hope this helps answer your question. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.

Carlos Alberto Ríos García, MD · Answer

The most indicate, when there is an autoimmune disease in a patient with implants, depending on the age by diabetes surgery has more risk. yes, the implant must be removed.

I have 30 year old implants. What is shelf life? Should I be planning replacement or removal?

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I have 30 year old implants. What is shelf life? Should I be planning replacement or removal?

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.