How long silicone implants last

There are no studies in which doctors leave ruptured breast implants in place simply to see what happens. With a ruptured implant I do recommend removal of the implant, whether it is silicone or saline.

If a ruptured silicone implant is left in place, the silicone could cause inflammation that results in pain or the development of scar tissue i. For this reason, some insurance companies will cover removal of a ruptured silicone breast implant. Saline implants are less clear-cut however. Insurance generally will not pay for removal of a ruptured saline implant.

This could be taken to mean ruptured saline implants do not cause problems. And anecdotally this appears to be true.

But I still recommend removing the implant if it is ruptured. But if the breast is hard or painful, most women will want to have the implant and capsule removed simply for comfort. Breasts change over time, whether you have implants or not.

Weight gain or loss will cause breasts to change size. Pregnancy and breastfeeding also cause changes in breast size and shape. And over time breast tissue shrinks and skin stretches, causing ptosis i. Breast implants can increase the amount of stretch on the skin, but the degree to which this happens depends on the size of the implant. The larger the implant, the more it will stretch the skin.

Why do breast changes over time matter? For two reasons. First, your breasts appearance will change as you age. Your breasts may drop lower that pesky droopiness again! Or as the tissue thins the implants may become more visible in the form of rippling.

Second, if or when you have your breast implants removed, your breasts will look different than they did prior to breast augmentation. There are some other possible contributors to the life of your implants and potential complications. Scar tissue is one of them. All surgery, all incisions, will cause scarring. The body handles internal scarring a little differently.

The capsule may become thick and hard, and can actually push the implant up and out of place. The displacement may cause folding or wrinkling, putting added pressure on the implant, both inside and out.

In these cases, the remedy is to undergo surgery to remove the scar tissue, open the capsule, and replace the implant with a new one. Healthline offers additional tips for knowing the signs there may be an issue with your breast implants.

The natural changes in our bodies as we age and experience life may also affect breast implants. Weight gain or loss may alter the way an implant will appear; pregnancy and breastfeeding can also trigger a change in appearance.

Patients choose to replace their implants for all sorts of reasons, not just because of implant failure. The body changes mentioned above, for instance.

Learn more about getting your breast implant size right for your body in this related blog post. Many will choose an implant with a different filling, and combine the replacement with a breast lift or reduction. And, some will simply choose to have the implants removed, often along with a breast lift. Implant rupture. Women who have saline implants immediately notice if an implant ruptures because the fluid drains and the breast appears deflated.

Cracks or ruptures in silicone implants may go unnoticed until detected during an MRI. Having children results in changes to the breasts for virtually all women, including women with implants.

Implant position. Some implants shift position over time, causing the breasts to look asymmetrical, too far apart, or too close together. Elective implant exchange. Women sometimes decide they want to increase or decrease the sizes of their implants or change the type of implants they have. For example, a woman with saline implants may want to have a newer generation of cohesive silicone gel implants instead. In some cases, patients choose to remove implants without replacing them, which is called explant surgery.

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Silicone breast implants were invented in the early 60s, and have been in continuous use for cosmetic breast augmentation worldwide since then the temporary suspension from only affected the U. They have also been under constant scrutiny and re-engineering, which means they have improved considerably since their first introduction.

The shells have been improved as well as the fill material. This means that even if the implant ruptures, the gel will remain inside the shell.