When is a good time to get a breast implant replacement?
April 27, 2020Hello to all my readers! This article focuses on a subject that many women with breast implants already know, but simply forget about it. Well, I want to remind you that breast implants are not life-long devices.
It is highly recommended by all plastic surgeons and also the FDA that women with silicone implants have an MRI around every three years to check whether they are still ok, even though this may be an out-of-pocket expense, the test will assure you the implants you have are fine (as well as everything else).
It is also very important for all women with or without breast implants to conduct self-breast exams on a regular basis to make sure everything feels normal.
Here are some of the signs for when a woman needs to have her breast implants replaced:
Hardening (Capsular Contracture):
Some women may experience tightness and hardening of the scar, or breast capsule, around their implant. This may cause the breast to migrate up and toward the armpit and be uncomfortable.
Capsular contracture can occur almost immediately after surgery, or it can develop many years later. The condition can occur with just one or both breasts.
Implant Rupture:
In women with saline implants, an implant leak would result in the deflation of the implant as the body absorbs the saline. Shortly after the leak begins, the breast will look dramatically different. At that point, it is time for silicone cohesive gel (gummy bear) breast implants.
With silicone gel implants of all types, a rupture is very rare and if it should happen, you may not recognize a change in their breasts. The reason is, silicone gel in today’s implants is much thicker than it has previously been and has a consistency similar to taffy or a gummy bear (hence the name). These cohesive gels make it difficult to detect a rupture because they tend to stay in place within the breast capsule. Additionally, most women do not experience symptoms with a silent rupture.
However, symptoms that you may have a leak include: change in breast size and/or shape, pain or tenderness, swelling, or changes in the sensation of the breast. If you become concerned, an ultrasound or mammogram will confirm if there is a problem or not
Change in Position:
The effects of time and gravity, as well as fluctuations in weight, may cause stretching and sagging of the breasts.
If you’re bothered by these changes, getting a revision with a breast lift or breast augmentation replacement may help return your breasts to their previous appearance.
Rippling or Palpability:
Rippling occurs when the implant develops wrinkles or ripples. This is more common with saline implants and may worsen with time.
Palpability refers to the ability to feel the ripples when you touch your breast.
If you see or feel wrinkling in your implant, you may want to consider replacing or removing it.
For women considering a removal and possible implant replacement, there are several important things to understand in order to make an informed decision. For example,
What is the life expectancy of implants?
Many doctors will recommend replacement at the 10 year mark.
Breast implants are one of the most studied medical devices in history. The first medical-grade silicone gel implants consisted of a thin shell gel, and patients were concerned that high rates of rupture and leaking implant material were leading to silicone infiltrating the bloodstream and lymph nodes and contributing to connective tissue diseases and autoimmune conditions.
So, in 1992, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pulled silicone gel implants off the market.
After 14 years of research in cooperation with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, silicone implants were reintroduced to the market in 2006 and the FDA issued a warning that breast implants are not life-long devices and may require removal and replacement.
Deciding to remove your implants:
If you are experiencing changes in your breasts or simply desire to have your implants removed, make sure to see a board-certified plastic surgeon in consultation to discuss your surgical options
It is important to talk to your doctor about what your breasts may look like after implant removal. Some women may experience deflation, sagging, or asymmetries of their breast.
Because of this, your doctor may recommend a breast revision by replacing your implants with a different type of implant, different size or shape, or in combination with a breast lift.
Additionally, the scar tissue, or breast capsule, may be removed in addition to the removal of your breast implants.
What is the surgery and recovery like?
Most women can resume light activities 3-5 days after surgery and resume more strenuous activities, such as going to the gym, in about 1 month.
Hoping you find my article helpful. Here are some good links to visit with information to help you with the decision to replace or remove your implants:
If you haven’t thought about what activities you can do while recovering, I will give you a link to look at:
In upcoming blogs, I will give you more tips and advice about health and happiness when planning plastic surgery.
