How Long Will Your Implants Last?

You will likely enjoy the benefits of your breast augmentation for many years after your surgery. At some point, however, a majority of these implants do need to be replaced.

Juan Brou, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon in Oklahoma City and owner of The Medical Spa by Dr. Juan Brou, said the most common problem is hardening, when the implants become too firm, which can distort their shape. Rips and tears can happen in both saline and silicone implants, although the problem is more common with saline implants. Saline implants also can show rippling beneath the skin over time. Finally, the natural course of aging and gravity can affect the shape and appearance of the implant.

With the reintroduction of silicone implants for breast augmentation in the U.S. several years ago, a lot of women are also choosing to replace their saline implants with newer, better-designed silicone implants.

“We’re on the third generation of breast implants now,” Dr. Brou said. “Silicone implants, in particular, have been studied for decades. They’re better engineered now, they feel better, and patients are happier with the results.”

After undergoing breast augmentation, Brou recommends that you keep in contact with your plastic surgeon, who can educate you about any possible problems. Sometimes it is very difficult, he said, to tell if an implant has ruptured, which is why he recommends an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) exam if a rupture is suspected. With regular implant maintenance, your implants can continue looking great for years.

If you’ve had your implants for more than 15 years, Dr. Brou recommends that you have them checked. The longer they are in place, the more likely it is for problems to develop.

“Many women suffer needlessly because they don’t realize that their implants can be fixed or removed,” he said. “There are better implants on the market now that will give them better results.”