Does the Expiration Date on the Implants Mean Shelf Life or Removal Before This Date is Up?

Question

My implants have an expiry of 2008. Does this mean I should have had them out by this date or shelf life?

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	The date printed on the breast implant box ( expiration date)  refers to shelf life  of the breast implant. There is no &ldquo;removal date&rdquo; of breast symptoms;  generally speaking, "if they ain't broke, we don't fix them&rdquo;.

	Best wishes.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You can keep your silicone implants for as long as they don't cause any problems. While the risk of rupture increases the longer you have them, you don't need to have them replaced if it's not necessary. The expiration date on the box refers to their shelf life, rather than when the implants actually expire.

Raj S. Ambay, MD · Answer

They do not have an expiration date once implanted but there are FDA recommendations for surveillance and potential replacement every 13 years. That said, most people do not replace them like a regular maintainance schedule and there are no ill effects. The expiration date on a sealed box is more related to a implant sitting on the shelf in a sterile packaging.

Does the Expiration Date on the Implants Mean Shelf Life or Removal Before This Date is Up?

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Does the Expiration Date on the Implants Mean Shelf Life or Removal Before This Date is Up?

Answers (3)

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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.