A 31-year-old member asked:
Does a breast augmentation procedure last forever?
31 doctor answers • 50 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: Implants have an average life of approximately 10 years. These are based on old data. Newer implants may last longer, but that remains to be seen. Once implant fails, they will need to be replaced.
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6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Roger Brillanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: You can expect to have another surgery at some point in time. Breast implants have the same issues of any implant. Saline implants can and do deflate and there is no way to know how long you will have the implants before it happens. A ten year life span is fairly common but it can happen in a year. Implants do a wonderful job for most people but understand the facts before surgery.
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6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Lawrence Rufanswered
Plastic Surgery 54 years experience
No: All man made objects have a certain life expectancy. For breast implants, the fda says this is 10-20 yrs but most last 20 yrs. Over time, folding & unfolding of the implant shell causes fatigue & cracks, or a seam/seal breaks. Saline filled implants will lose volume & shape, while newer silicone filled implants will show no change. Niether poses a threat but the saline ones will need replacing.
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6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Lawrence Rufanswered
Plastic Surgery 54 years experience
No: If capsular contracture occurs with either saline filled or silicone filled implants, they will need to be changed out sooner, especially if they are associated with pain or deformity that is visible in clothing.
For breast reconstruction patients, there is greater likelihood for needing implant exchange due to more aggressive & dense scar tissue, especially if radiation treatment is needed.
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6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Richard Dabbanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: A breast augmentation procedure does not last forever. Implants have a 7% failure rate in the 1st 10 years of implantation and this goes up significantly after that. It is unusual for an implant to survive more than 20 years. A saline implant deflates and is clinically obvious, a gel implant may require an MRI to make the diagnosis. The fda suggests an MRI for gel implants every 3 years.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Fara Movagharniaanswered
Plastic Surgery 33 years experience
No: There is always a chance that they may rupture. This will be obvious with a saline implant because you will see loss of volume. A silicone implant will not lose volume, especially with the new cohesive gel type. An MRI will verify if the silicone implant has ruptured.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Richard Baxteranswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: Although breast implants are guaranteed for life against failure by the manufacturers, there is a reasonable chance that they will need to be revised or exchanged at some point. Implants now are made to very high standards, but the experience and judgment of the plastic surgeon is also important in acheiving a stable long-term result.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Robert W. Alexanderanswered
Plastic Surgery 49 years experience
No: Depending on many factors, augmentation with artificial implants should be considered a procedure which will be repeated within 6-10 year periods. Implant materials and shells have a limited lifespan, and this fact should be considered prior to doing the initial augmentation. Use of your own fat to augment the breasts is rapidly gaining importance, as there is nothing foreign placed.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. George R Valentinianswered
Plastic Surgery 54 years experience
No: With saline implants, there is no reason to change the implants unless there is a delation or when the patient wants to go to a larger size after the original surgery.
It is recommended that silicone implants be exchanged after 10-12 years.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Karen Singeranswered
Plastic Surgery 46 years experience
Yes: If you do experience some problems, which may occur even years after the procedure, you may need another procedure, and to replace the implants.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Marialyn Sardoanswered
Plastic Surgery 41 years experience
No: Breast augmentation is not considered a one time procedure. The lifespan of the implants is limited. Typical average is about 10 years for saline implants and more in the 20 year range for silicone. A significant number of women will also need to have revisional surgery for size, shape, or capsular contraction treatment at some point.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Joseph Perlmananswered
Plastic Surgery 47 years experience
No: Breast implants are manufactured with a silicone shell. They either come prefilled with silicone gel or are empty and are filled, through a valve, with saline at the time of surgery. The first breast implants were placed in the 1960s and there are still a few patients whose implants are intact. The first breast augmentation i performed was in 1983 and that patients implants are still in place, and not causing her any problems.
Breast implants come with a 10 year warranty. When breast implants do deflate, it's usually due to a small pinhole in a crease that develops on the surface of the implant. The other place is where the seal is on the back of the implants.
Some physicians recommend that their patients replace the implants every 10 years but my feeling is that if there are no problems, i don't see a reason to change the implants out.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Shareef Jandalianswered
Plastic Surgery 18 years experience
No: Charlotte,
it all depends on the patient's breasts and how the person ages with time. Sometimes a woman might need a breast lift (mastopexy), for example, if she breastfeeds after having implants for only a few years. As for the implant, we say that implants last about 10 years in general, but they could last longer. The rate of rupture is about 1% per year.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Todd Sistoanswered
Plastic Surgery 39 years experience
No: Nothing lasts forever. I've seen patients with thirty year old devices with which they continued to be happy. On the other hand, it's common to need revision after about ten years. Saline devices don't usually last "forever".
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Anita Patelanswered
Cosmetic Surgery 22 years experience
Breast augmentation: Breast implants are not a lifetime device. Many surgeons recommend changing out implants at around 10 years. That is not a strict rule, but recommended in order to avoid rupture or leak of the implants. Other reasons for additional surgery are capsular contracture, implant leak or rupture, ptosis (or sagging of breasts), or change in desired size. These issues may arise early or late.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Lavinia Chonganswered
Plastic Surgery 35 years experience
Implant longevity: No. Like any medical device, breast implants can fail and require replacement. Women with breast implants will have secondary ops because of implant shell failure/leakage, accumulation of scar tissue around the prosthesis or because of their desire for a different style, size, content (saline vs silicone) or because of skin loosening or ptosis.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Trueanswered
Preventive Medicine 43 years experience
As you like them: My usual response to this question with my patients is that breast augmentation lasts as long as you like them. I have patients who have had implants for years, are happy with them, and don't want to change them. Conversely, if you don't like them or you develop a problem, you can have the implants removed or replaced. The biggest reason why women want them replaced is to get a bigger size.
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6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Archibald Milleranswered
Plastic Surgery 43 years experience
No: The implants have a half life of 16 years and all rupture eventually. Plus, your skin will age at the normal rate, so your body will change normally with time.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Bryan McIntoshanswered
Plastic Surgery 21 years experience
No: Everything that is man-made has a finite lifespan. No breast implant will last forever. Breast augmentation performed by fat transfer does not rely on an implant, however. Breast size may change with changes in your weight and as you age, even with fat transfer.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Mario Dianaanswered
Plastic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes and no: Poor outcomes from breast augmentation surgery will affect a woman for the rest of her life. Breast implants do not last forever and are not lifetime devices. Breast augmentation with fat transfer has a much longer life span ( as long as the individual weight management :).
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. ELizabeth Kinsleyanswered
Plastic Surgery 36 years experience
No: Your body will continue to age, and as you do your breasts, augmented or not, will change. That said, frequently augmented breasts look better with age than non augmented breasts.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Trueanswered
Preventive Medicine 43 years experience
It can: Breast augmentation using implants lasts as long as you like them. I see many women with implants they have had for years. However, many women have them replaced because they want them bigger (or smaller), a capsular contraction has made them hard or painful, or they have changed the shape of the breast. Over time, breasts tend to sag too and this may need to be corrected with different implants.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Annette Occhialinianswered
Plastic Surgery 38 years experience
Unfortunately no: We have yet to make an implant that will last forever. If a breast implant is left long enough it will eventually need to be replaced.
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6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Otto Placikanswered
Surgery - Plastics 36 years experience
Implant longevity: Breast implants are simplified machines that are essentially a balloon. Depending on the longevity of the individual the breast augmentation may last for the entirety of its intended purpose. However the statistics show that most patients will have their implants removed or replaced at some point and therere the most immediate answer to your question is: no, they do not last forever.
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6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
Dr. Otto Placik commented
Surgery - Plastics 36 years experience
Provided original answer
Fat grafting has the potential to be permanent as are the problems associated with it. However, your breasts will continue to age and change with weight gain/loss and hormonal changes associated with aging and pregnancy and medications
Feb 11, 2012
Dr. Rimma Finkelanswered
Plastic Surgery 22 years experience
No: Implants go through wear and tear in the body and gravity does not stop over time. Eventually, the implants will rupture and the breasts will fall. At some point, the implants will need to be replaced and you may also need a lift.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Clark Schierleanswered
Plastic Surgery 20 years experience
Breast implant life: Breast augmentation is most commonly performed with implants compared of a silicone shell with a salt water or silicone gel filling. They are designed to last forever, but like all man-made devices they are fallible and fail at a very low rate per year. You should prepare for the fact that you may need some additional surgery over the course of your life to replace them.
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Scott Tucker commented
Plastic Surgery 41 years experience
Implants do not last forever and will need to be replaced at some point. With saline implants it is obvious because the implants go flat when the saline is absorbed. Silicone implants are more difficult to figure out when to replace. You might experience pain, change in shape,mammography change
Jul 29, 2012
Dr. Robert Stroupanswered
Plastic Surgery 40 years experience
Not forever: Breast implants are man-made products, and, as such, eventually wear out and need to be replaced. This usually takes place between 15-20 years after the procedure. The replacement process is usually quick and simple.
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5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. James Boyntonanswered
Plastic Surgery 25 years experience
No: Breast augmentation is an enhancement done with medical manufactured implants (either saline or silicone gel). Any "non living" device whether it is a pacemaker or breast implant will degrade over time and eventually need to be replaced. Fortunately the devices are fda approved and very safe and all breast augmentation patients eventually will need to have them replaced.
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Brueckanswered
Plastic Surgery 50 years experience
No it does not: Breast aug involves p[lacement of a prosthesis which like evrything else has a limited use time.I have had patients with implants over 30 years of age.Also soem women come back after 5 or so years and want them bigger or lifted.
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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Timothy Mountcastleanswered
Plastic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: If an implant or fat grafting is used the affects will last forever. However implants rupture, ripple, contractures occur and so on and so forth. The stated reoperation rate is over 25% within 10 years of having implants placed.
Fat grafting is a less studied area of breast augmentation. If the fat takes the results will last forever but can grow and shrink based on your overall body mass.
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5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Joseph Meleanswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Breast Aug Longevity: Just like the rest of our body, the breasts do not retain their youthful appearance forever. While breast implants certainly keep their shape better than most breasts, revision surgery may be necessary to maintain even the best results. There are two reasons for breast augmentation revisions. The breasts change shape or the breast implants wear out.
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1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 6, 2021
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