How long can I keep my saline implants? They are 12 years old and I have no problems with them. How long will they last?

Question

My saline implants are 12 years old for how long they last ? I have no problems with them .

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You can keep your saline implants for as long as they don't cause any problems. While the risk of deflation increases the longer you have them, you don't need to have them replaced if it's not necessary.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Implant companies will not tell you that implants can be life long devices.  If your implants are not causing you problems such as pain, capsular contracture and/or pain then there is no need to bother them.

Bruce Landon, MD · Answer

Thank You for your question. If you are happy with how you look and are not encapsulated or suspect a rupture, there is no need to exchange your implants.The most common long term problem is implant rupture. The risk of implant rupture is 1% each year, at the 10 year mark you have a 10% chance of your implant rupturing.You possibly have many more years before the need to exchange.

Francisco Canales, MD · Answer

If you have had no problems with your implants, I see no reason to exchange them at 12 years.   We have seen patients who have enjoyed over twenty years with saline implants that have had no problems.  If you have any concerns, check with your original surgeon or with a board-certified plastic surgeon for an in-person exam. Best of luck.

John D. Smoot, MD · Answer

This is a good question and the answer is simple, if is not broken don't fix it.  Saline implants don't have to be changed every so many years but can last 30 to 40 years.  When they break it is easy to tell because they deflate quickly. They have a rupture rate of about 10% every ten years or 1% per year.  Good luck and I hope they continue to last.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and congratulations on many years of enjoying the outcome of breast augmentation surgery!  There is no way of predicting exactly how long your saline breast implants will be problem free.  Also, there is no time limit as to when or if you need to exchange your breast implants. I have heard from patients that they have heard that breast implants need to be changed every 10 years. The only reasons you would need to exchange your breast implants are if you are having a problem with them or if you'd like to change the size.Some of the potential complications that may  prompt arrest implant removal/replacement would be deflation, capsular contracture, bottoming out, or just size change.   I hope this helps.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

I tell my patients that "if it ain"t broke don"t fix it" and in the case of saline implants they will deflate if there is a problem letting you know immediately there is a problem

Dr. Corbin

Vincent D. Lepore, MD (retired) · Answer

There is no "expiration date" with saline implants.  The risk of a deflation is approximately 3 to 4 percent over a 5-10 year period.  However, if your implants are doing well there is no need to change them.  I have a number of patients who have had saline implants in place for over 25 years without any problems.  Best wishes, Dr Lepore.

Michael S. Hopkins, MD (retired) · Answer

There is a long standing "old wives tale" that suggests changing breast implants every ten years.  Based on science and observation, there is no reason to exchange implants unless they are causing problems or you desire a change in size.  If you are having breast surgery for another reason, say to lift the breast, you might consider exchanging the implant at that time.  No one can say how long an implant will last, but the nice thing about a saline implant is that it will be obvious if a leak occurs since the implant will deflate, the breast will shrink and the need to change the implant will be apparent.

How long can I keep my saline implants? They are 12 years old and I have no problems with them. How long will they last?

Answers (9)

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