My 32 year old silicone breast implants have become very saggy. Is this normal?

Question

32 years ago, when I was 24, I received silicone breast implants. My breats were tiny, not even an "A" cup, basically nothing, then I went to a "B" cupwhen I got the implants..I have never had any problems at all. Now I am 56 and they have really started to sag. I never had children, so it can't be that. Is this just mother nature? I don't want to change them. I just didn't expect them to look so droopy.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your excellent question.  Unfortunately time and gravity work on all of the body's skin to develop looseness and sagging, and breasts are no different.  Without photographs it is difficult to offer definite recommendations but due to tissue stretching and enlargement of the breast implant pocket the best option for improvement would likely entail exchanging of your implants, narrowing the implant pocket and a breast lift to help elevate your nipple position.  Hope this helps.

Mark Crispin, MD · Answer

With time the breast, even a small breast, will droop because the skin envelope loosens.  If the implants are still intact the problem is caused by your breast aging.  Women with small breasts and no implant complain about the same thing in time.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Congratulations on a long run with breast implants! It's not your breast implants that have sagged, but your breasts. It is totally normal for Gravity to have won the race and dropped your breasts after 32 years! The reality is that it's unhealthy to have your breast implants in your body this long and most surgeons would recommend exchanging them and if you're saggy maybe a lift! Please see a few plastic surgeons in your area for an opinion as to what can be done. Best wishes always, Dr. Aldo

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

As we age the quality of of our tissues goes down.  A lift and implant revision might be appropriate for you. Best of luck.

Gregory Sexton, MD · Answer

We all lose skin elasticity with age, which allows the skin of the breast to sag. If you have had your implants 32 years, there is a good chance you have a capsular contracture, causing firmness, and the breast is then hanging off the implant. There is also a significant chance that your implants have leaked, A visit with a Board Certified Plastic surgeon should be able to answer those questions, and make recommendations for treatment, if any is needed.Good luck,Greg Sexton, M.D,Columbia, S.C.

Michel C. Samson, MD · Answer

It is mother nature, probably combined with old gel implants which can change over decades as well.  As you get older the tissues do stretch and thin out somewhat.  Furthermore, breast implants do have a limited lifespan; although there is no exact number of years they last, 32 years for implants would be considered a long time.  If you become interested in changing them, there are options including newer generation implants, breast lift procedures, etc that can improve the droopiness.

Gaurav Bharti, MD, FACS · Answer

It's wonderful that your implants lasted for 32 years. The sagging that you have described occurs simply because of the weight of the breast and implants and change in the tissue quality. You have many options. It would be best to be seen in person by a board-certified plastic surgeon to help you navigate your choices which may include implant exchange and breast lift. Good luck

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

After 32 years be very grateful they are not hard. If they have sagged that is normal. If you are unhappy with the appearance consider a breast lift.

Michael L. Workman, MD (retired) · Answer

This is quite normal. Gravity works on the breasts whether they have implants or not.  As we age, skin elasticity decreases and causes the sagging that you are experiencing.   If you are unhappy with the way your breasts look you may want to look into getting a breast lift done.  Be sure to see a surgeon that is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

My 32 year old silicone breast implants have become very saggy. Is this normal?

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