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Will Your Breast Implants Last A Lifetime?

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The lifespan of your breast implants is a topic that should be on your mind when considering breast augmentation or breast revision. You may be wondering: how long do breast implants typically last? Do they need to be replaced after a certain period of time? What happens to breast implants over time: do they sag or ripple?

Many women mistakenly believe that breast implants need to be replaced every ten years. The average lifespan of breast implants is 10-25 years. Breast implants typically only need to be replaced if you have an issue with them, such as if one ruptures or capsular contractures occur. Here, we will discuss the average lifespan of breast implants and why they may need to be replaced.

The Average Lifetime of Breast Implants

While they may not last forever, breast implants can last a surprisingly long time, averaging between 10 and 25 years. This, of course, can depend on a number of different factors, including the type and size of the implants, surgical techniques, and the natural aging process of each individual patient.

There is much to discuss over whether saline or silicone implants have more durability when talking about the lifespan of breast implants. While some experts insist that silicone gel implants last longer than their saline counterparts, an MRI is needed to detect a rupture in silicone implants, whereas a rupture in saline implants will be immediately apparent.

Why Do Breast Implants Need to Be Replaced?

There are many reasons why someone might want or need to have their breast implants replaced, including aesthetic and medical reasons.

Some of these include:

  • Desire for smaller or larger breasts
  • Less or more projection
  • More cleavage
  • Asymmetrical breast or rib asymmetries
  • Capsular contracture
  • Ruptured implants
  • Breast implant illness

How Is Breast Revision Surgery Performed?

At Bay Area Plastic Surgery, Dr. Leonard Gray specializes in two approaches for breast revision surgery: straightforward revisions and capsular contracture revisions.

The straightforward revisions will involve you and Dr. Gray deciding upon the look you would like to achieve. Then during your revision, Dr. Gray will do his best to utilize the same incisions as your original breast augmentation surgery. This will help prevent any more scarring in new areas. From there, he will adjust the breast pocket. Implants do have a tendency to drift down or out to the size, so Dr. Gray will correct this by reshaping and inserting permanent stitches into the existing pockets. Once the new pocket is measured, Dr. Gray will insert the breast implants, close up the incisions, and you’ll rest in a recovery room.

For a capsular contracture revision, Dr. Gray will remove capsule tissue completely and entirely. He will then place Acellular Dermal Matrix in the lower part of the breast implant pocket. He will then similarly replace the implant, as described in a straightforward revision.

Schedule Your Breast Revision Surgery at Bay Area Plastic Surgery

While your breast implants may not last a lifetime, they can still look and feel amazing for years to come. If you think it’s time to replace your breast implants for aesthetic or medical reasons, don’t hesitate to call board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Leonard Gray at (628) 265-0218 or contact us online through our website.