Do silicone breast implants last longer than saline implants?

Plastic surgeons used to say that saline implants last "about 10 years" but there is no science to that. They deflate at about 1 percent per year and many patients get them "changed" out around this time. I have seen saline implants still holding up at 15 years without a problem. I also have removed many old silicone gel implants that are 20 to 30 years old. Based on this anecdotal informtation, we as plastic surgeons mostly feel that silicone gel implants that we are now using will last at least as long as the old ones we often see for removal and replacement. I hope this helps!

Great and tough question to answer. There are so many generations of both types of implants out there. I would say they last the same and the idea of one breaking earlier is not something we really think about

I would say that I don't know of any study conclusively determining which "lasts" longer. Rupture rates are about 1% per year but with the new generation of silicone implants, it's more likely that a silicone implant rupture would go unnoticed and thus effectively last longer. I don't know that having a silent rupture really qualifies as "lasting" however. I hope this helps.Best,