The Lifespan of Breast Implants

If you are thinking about having breast implants, you may be curious about the process and whether or not they are right for you. Breast implants are great if you want to increase the size of your breasts, alter the shape, or if you want to reconstruct damage after surgery. But what are the dangers of breast implants and how long do they last?

There is a lot of misconception about when breast implants need to be replaced. Most commonly, people believe that breast implants need to be replaced every 10 years. While this is partly true, you may be interested to learn that breast implants technically don’t have an expiration date, as long as they do not rupture or cause discomfort.

However, breast implants are never guaranteed for a lifetime. Most will last between 10 and 20 years; however, it's ultimately down to the way your body reacts to the implants that results in them needing to be changed.

How Do I Know If My Breast Implants Need to Be Replaced?

In most cases, surgeons will recommend that you have your breast implants replaced every decade, as new breast implant problems after 10 years tend to be the most common. However, there are some circumstances in which you will need to have them replaced sooner.

If you experience any of the following, this is a sign that you need a breast implant replacement and you should seek medical advice as soon as you can:

• Rupturing of the breast implant
• Capsular contracture
• Silicone rupture
• Saline rupture
• Deflation
• Leakage

There are many different reasons that a breast implant can rupture. It can sometimes be hard to tell, but you may experience the following symptoms. Please be aware that not all people will experience these:

• Change in sensation
• Numbness
• Burning
• Tingling
• Swelling
• Uneven appearance
• Tenderness
• Pain in the breasts
• Decreased size
• Hard knots
• Position change
• Hardening
• Rippling
• Palpability

Tips For Increasing the Lifespan of Your Breast Implants

Many people choose to have a breast augmentation if they’re unhappy with the size or shape of their breasts, while others may have breast augmentation following an injury or illness that has caused their breasts to change appearance or need to be removed.

Complications tend to occur as a result of normal ageing of the implant or can be due to errors in the surgery process. Errors in surgery are very unlikely, but can sometimes happen. However, there are some things you can do to help reduce the risks causing damage to your breast implants, for instance:

• Leave enough time for your recovery period and make sure you don’t do any strenuous activity until you are fully fit and well (e.g. exercise or heavy lifting)
• Follow the instructions given by your surgeon and ask questions where necessary
• Choose a reputable plastic surgeon with a lot of experience and positive results. You can find out more about choosing a trustworthy surgeon here.
• Book MRI scans regularly to check for silicone ruptures

The Dangers of Breast Implant Surgery

Like all surgeries, breast augmentation is not without its risks. Here are some dangers of breast implants you should be aware of before deciding to go ahead with the surgery:

• Additional surgeries needed down the line
• Implant complications such as breast pain and a change in nipple sensation
• Rupture and deflation
• Capsular contracture which is scar tissue that forms around the implant and squeezes it
• Systemic symptoms
• Effects on children
• Problems with breastfeeding
• Breast implant associated-anaplastic large cell lymphoma which is a type of cancer of the immune system
• Connective tissue disease
• Breast cancer
• Reproductive problems

 If you have experienced a problem following your breast augmentation surgery click here.

Talk to Us

We know how distressing it can be to have cosmetic surgery go wrong. That’s why our team of expert solicitors is on hand to help assist you with any questions you may have and to make a claim to seek the compensation you deserve following a botched surgery. Learn more about making a breast implant compensation claim here.

Contact us by calling 0808 252 0175, or fill in our online form to request a call back from our friendly team.