I have saline implants that are 18 years old. I am not having any problems with them. How long is too long?. (photo)

Good morning!When saline implants rupture your body absorbs the saline harmlessly. On the other hand, your implants will eventually break. There is no urgency or requirement to replace them as long as you are happy with the look, size, feel and shape, but do keep in the back of your mind that eventually you will need to because eventually one will pop.

While you may not have a problem it would be advisable to change the implants before they rupture.  The procedure is easier and with less work involved.  Once the implant ruptures it becomes more of an urgency unless you want to be lopsided until the surgery.  It will usually rupture at a time when you have a special event or trip to take.  I would find a plastic surgeon sooner rather than later to have the implants changed.  Good luck, Dr. Schuster in Boca Raton

That is a very personal question only you can determine. With the new implant warranties might be best to exchange to a MUCH better product with life time guarrantees

Thank you for your question. The FDA recommends replacing implants every ten years. 18 years is a long time - but I've treated patients who have had them in for nearly 30 years. If you don't change your implants, you will be at an increased risk for capsular contracture - a hardening of the breast implant capsule, implant rupture / deflation / failure, and changes to your breast shape. Now, if you're ok with these risks - and this is not recommended - and your implants are still soft and supple, some women may choose not to replace the implants. However, if you are in your 40s-50s (or younger), you should likely change them out just to ensure that they do not give you any trouble in the future. If all you require is a simple switch, the down time is negligible. Your best bet is to have an in-person examination with a Plastic Surgeon and hear your options. You may be interested in switching to silicone implants, for example - or shaped implants. A lot has happened in 18 years in the world of cosmetic breast surgery! Best of luck.