Old implants
Plastic surgeons have been known to quote a time frame after which breast implants become “expired.” The fact is, the longevity of implants is based on purely statistical analysis. The older the implant, the more likely it’s outer shell will have a fault, resulting in what we refer to as an “implant rupture”.
It’s quite rare for a breast augmentation patient to request implant removal based on age alone, particularly when there are no problems with the breast implants. A saline implant will deflate when the shell ruptures, whereas a silicone implant will likely continue to function normally (it will perform like a run flat tire). Eventually the breast will become firmer or develop some pain and discomfort.
If I were to throw out a time frame to consider implant exchange, it would probably be 15-20 years. This is a good opportunity to change the implant style or size, or to “spruce up” your breasts with a pocket adjustment or breast lift. As much as we would all love for implants to last forever, they don’t. An implant exchange is the most common treatment to old implants. The option of simply removing them is not acceptable to most patients.
An MRI exam of your breasts to detect for a fault in the implant shell is not a perfect test—its accuracy is about 80 percent, and is very dependent on the quality of the exam and the experience of the Radiologist. If you are experiencing any of the complications described in this section on breast revision, and your implants are over 15 years old, I would suggest considering an exchange for a new pair of breast implants. It’s not just peace of mind, it’s also a great opportunity to make additional improvements to your breasts, if you prefer.
