Do Breast Implants Need To Be Replaced?

Posted July 27, 2023 in Breast Augmentation, Uncategorized

By Dr. Christopher Patronella

A common misconception is that implants have some sort of expiration date. I think a lot of people pick this up on the internet, and it’s just not true. My philosophy is that when a patient who has had breast implants for x number of years, say over 10 years, comes in for a consultation, I don’t recommend removal unless they desire a change or they’re having another procedure, and they want to replace their implants at the same time.

Generally speaking, implants can last much longer than 10 years. The rupture rate for both silicone and saline implants is in the neighborhood of 4 to 5 percent at 10 years and perhaps a little bit higher as time goes on. So my position is that there is no need to change your implants unless you’re having a problem. And if you are experiencing some sort of difficulty, come in for a consultation, and we can talk about it, I can examine you, and we’ll go from there.