How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

When making the decision to get breast implants, many questions could be running through your mind. Do the implants themselves ever expire? Will I have to worry about leakage or popping? Will I ever need replacements?

Breast augmentation is a routine procedure nowadays for plastic surgeons, and the type of augmentation that you require will determine how the surgery will be performed. For many, this is day surgery, meaning they can go home the very same day, but if you have concerns, you can spend the night at the hospital.

Types of Implants

The two major kinds of implants, silicone and saline, both come with their own pros and cons. The correct type for can only be decided after talking with your plastic surgeon and hearing about the pros and cons for your particular situation.

Both types of implants are made from a silicone shell. Silicone implants are filled with a silicone gel while saline implants are filled with a saline solution, also known as salt water. Since both silicone and saline implants have the same outer shell, neither implant has a higher rate of rupture or leakage than the other. A new implant hitting the market is the IDEAL Implant and is meant to combine the safety of saline with the look and feel of silicone. You can read more about this type of implant here.

Lifetime of Breast Implants and Replacement Concerns

While breast implants, once placed, do not have an expiration date, there may come a time when you feel they need to be replaced. Breast implants can rupture or leak, though this is a very rare occurrence, and you should not have to change your lifestyle in any way to avoid this from happening.

Medically speaking, implants do not require replacement after such-and-such years. If you are experiencing issues with your implants, such as a rupture or leakage, that would be the only time a replacement would be necessary.

Whether you choose saline or silicone, rest assured, implants never expire, and the only cause for replacement would be due to rupture or leakage, both of which are rare occurrences. Always seek a plastic surgeon with at least 3 years’ experience with breast augmentation, and one who will listen to your concerns and answer your questions to your satisfaction.