There used to be a guideline that breast implants had to be replaced every ten years. This comes from the days when almost all breast implants were silicone breast implants and we lacked the tools for detecting “silent rupture” (when breast implants rupture but the fill material remains completely in the breast). Nowadays, though, it’s not a question of when you should replace your breast implants, but why. Here’s a breakdown of the reasons why women generally replace their silicone gel breast implants:
- Capsular contracture
- Desire for a style/size change
- Rupture
- Sagging
- Poor position
- Asymmetry
Depending on the manufacturer, the two top rates change. About half of all women with Mentor breast implants decide to have implants removed because they want a different size or style, compared to only 20% for Allergan. Also, Mentor had only a 20% capsular contracture rate, while Allergan had a 32% rate. Rates are different for saline breast implants, but the reasons are basically the same. However, it’s pretty clear that the main reason why women want to have their breast implants removed (and generally replaced) is for aesthetic reasons. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your breast implants, then you should consider having them removed. Sometimes you might go to the same surgeon to have them removed (especially if you were generally happy with the results at first, but sagging became an issue), or you can seek the help of a different surgeon. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David A. Bottger has experience performing both primary and revision breast augmentation and can help you if you want to touch up or improve the appearance of your breast implants. To schedule a revision breast augmentation consultation, please contact Dr. David A. Bottger in Philadelphia today.