Some patients may not realize that breast implants are not lifelong devices, Dr. Da Lio notes. “Eventually, they will fail and need to be replaced,” he says.
Most silicone and saline implants are FDA approved for 10-20 years, but this does not mean that you have to get them replaced every 10-20 years. You can safely go beyond these time frames, and most patients only have to have 1-2 replacements in their lifetime.
Women who have silicone gel-filled implants need to get regular mammogram screenings yearly plus an MRI or ultrasound scan five to six years after the initial implant surgery and every two to three years after that to check for silent rupture.
On average, today's implants are designed to last more than a decade, with the chance of rupture increasing by one percent each year. So, the older your implants are, the greater your risk of rupture or other complications. In many cases, breast implants can remain in good shape for 20 years or more.
Overview of aging with breast implants
For many people, their breast implants last their entire lives. While these devices can lose some of their strength over time, there is no rule that says breast implants are only ever good for 10 years. Additionally, the breasts will sag and become thinned out in many cases.
The biggest risk associated with older implants is rupturing. Over time, the implants can become weakened and become more prone to rupturing or leaking. Luckily, today's implants are engineered to be as safe as possible in the event of a rupture or leak.
Not only will you want to abstain from regular physical exercise during your recovery period, but you'll also want to avoid lifting your children or moving any heavy items around the house. Lifting heavy items can cause you pain, as well as potentially compromise your final results. DON'T go for a swim.
If your current breast implants are placed under the muscle and your surgeon uses the same incision location, many patients find that the recovery is slightly easier and less painful than the original. This is because the muscle does not need to be stretched (or stretched a large amount more).
After 10 years of an initial breast augmentation, 1 out of 5 patients need some sort of revision procedure. That means 20% of patients need another operation due to excess scarring inside the breast (capsular contracture), broken implant etc. That also means that 80% of the patients are doing fine at 10 years.
They can rupture or leak, and saline implants may deflate. Capsular contracture may also occur, which is shrinkage of natural scar tissue that your body produces around any implanted medical device. This may result in firm or hard breasts or a deformity which you can feel or see.
Breast Implants Will Settle into Place
Sagging will happen over time as the breast tissue begins aging. The larger the implants are, the quicker sagging will occur. However, breast augmentation surgery results will make breasts look great for many years, and sagging is not imminent until 10+ years later in most cases.
More than 100 symptoms have been associated with breast implant illness, including headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems. Symptoms can occur with any type of breast implants and can start immediately after implantation or years later.
Rupture/deflation rates of 3% to 5% and 7% to 10% have been reported at 3 years and 10 years after insertion of saline breast implants, respectively [3]. Studies on the lifespan of saline implants by Natrelle have shown that rupture occurs in 10% of these implants during the first 10 years after insertion [3].
Both saline and silicone breast implants are considered safe. Research on how safe both types of implants are and how well they work is ongoing.
Avoid chest and shoulder exercises, lifting weights or any other exercise that puts pressure on your chest or back. In most cases, patients will be healed and able to resume all forms of exercise – including heavy cardio – within six weeks.
3 Minute Read: The placement of a breast implant into a woman's body results in an immune response to the foreign object. We know this because a capsule is formed around every implant. Our immune system's job is to guard against foreign objects, chemicals, and pathogens.
Deciding On the Ideal Time For Breast Implants
The 20s and 30s are the most frequent time that women have breast implants. Women in that age bracket are usually in the best health of their lives, have an awareness of their body appearance, and they are mature enough mentally for breast implants.
Want a Confidence Boost– Your children are growing up and your body has undergone many changes since your 20s. Many women in their 50s choose breast augmentation to rediscover confidence. Yes, you're older, but you can still look great!
Even if your breasts appear to be fully developed by 16, we recommend waiting until at least 18 before having breast augmentation surgery. The FDA-recommended minimum age for breast implants is: 18 years old for saline implants. 22 years old for silicone implants.