If you’re asking the question – how often do you really need to get a breast augmentation – then either you’re considering having breast implants or you already have been through the process.
Both situations will prompt you to ask many questions. Here are some of the more common ones:
- How often should breast implants be replaced?
- How often should breast implants be checked?
- How often do breast implants leak?
- What will my breast implants look like when I’m older?
These and many other questions are more common than you might think, questions every woman considering implants or who has implants should ask her surgeon. Dr. Pugash has a comprehensive overview of Breast Augmentation that covers many of the common frequently asked questions (FAQs) about breast augmentation, and this is a good place to start.
Do Breast Implants Last a Lifetime?
Most manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on the implant itself. While some patients might keep the same implants for more than 15 years, they are not intended as lifetime devices.
Eventually, for a variety of reasons, your implants will probably need to be replaced. The risk of implant rupture grows after the first 10 years, so at the very least, it’s recommended that you see your plastic surgeon every 10 years. Thus, you should expect to have follow-up surgeries in your lifetime.
When Would You Need to Replace Your Breast Implants?
Every implant, given enough time, will eventually break. A saline implant may drain between 10 and 15 years after surgery; when it occurs, this is easy to detect since the breast deflates and loses volume. A silicone gel implant typically stays intact for 15 to 20 years. In the case of silicone implant rupture, the gel cannot go anywhere. It is held in place by the scar tissue the body has formed around the implant. Implant failure can be detected by changes in the breast’s feel or appearance or by mammograms or other imaging, including MRI.
Your breasts and body will change over the years, and while your breast implants can do many great things, they can’t stop the passage of time. The occasional planned visit to your plastic surgeon will give you the chance to review your options to either maintain or improve upon your results.
What Happens to Breast Implants as You Age?
Due to the natural effects of aging, many women choose to replace their implants. Whether natural or implanted, all breasts are subject to gravity, lost connective tissue, sun damage, and the physical effects of motherhood: pregnancy and breastfeeding. Weight fluctuations and the natural aging process will change your breast tissue, and over time, your implants might not look or feel quite the same.
Time-related changes often include size change due to hormonal fluctuations, breast sagging, or the implants visibly rippling. Before their first child, women who received implants may discover that pregnancy and breastfeeding change their breast implants’ original look and feel.
Thus, after they are through having children, some mothers may want to restore their breasts to their original look and feel. On the other hand, women who had larger implants when they were younger may find that the larger implant feels heavy and can make them look excessively busty or bulky. If this is the case, they may choose to have their implants replaced with smaller ones.
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation Surgery?
The best candidates are physically healthy women who are nonsmokers and able to maintain a stable and healthy weight.
During your initial consultation at the Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery offices of Dr. Eric Pugash in Vancouver, British Columbia, you’ll learn more about all your options in detail. Feel free to contact us by calling (604) 522-5199 or scheduling a complimentary consultation on our website.