Many women who come to us for breast augmentation ask if their breast implants will last forever. Breast implants are not immortal devices, and it is likely that you will have to replace them at least once.
Breast implants are very durable and resilient, however, there’s no way of avoiding the wear and tear that happens over time. Regardless of the brand, type, and size of your breast implants, they will likely survive for between 10-20 years before you need to replace them.
The good news is that most breast implant manufacturers offer very generous warranty programs to put your mind to ease. These warranties include free implant replacement and financial aid that sometimes extend for life. This helps you feel safe and protected long after your surgery.
All breast implant manufacturers provide comprehensive warranties that cover major events related to breast implants. In general, these include:
All breast implants are prone to rupture after 10-20 years have passed on your breast augmentation surgery. An implant rupture is when the implant’s shell (outer casing) breaks and the implant material leaks into the surrounding breast tissue. Symptoms usually include;
Almost all major breast implant manufacturers provide a lifetime replacement policy. This is normally free of charge in cases of implant rupture. Moreover, some provide a certain amount of financial coverage to help with the fees of surgery.
After breast enhancement surgery, your body forms a capsule of tissue around the implant as part of the normal healing process. As time passes, this capsule tightens and may occasionally cause a change in your breast size or feel.
Plastic surgeons use the Baker grading system to classify the severity of capsular contracture.
Implant manufacturers usually cover capsular contracture for the first 10 years after surgery.
Seroma is a fluid collection that develops around your implant. This usually happens right after surgery and goes away spontaneously. However, if it happens after some time has passed, some manufacturers might offer replacement implants. Some may even offer financial coverage to rule out Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
This is a type of immune cell cancer. Mainly found to be associated with textured breast implants. Several implicated and non-implicated brands offer free replacement implants as well as financial support for those suspected to have BIA-ALCL.
Other complications
Depending on your implant brand, the manufacturer might also cover complications such as double capsule formation, breast implant rotation or displacement.
It is important to know that breast implant manufacturers only cover the complications listed above. Breast implant warranty usually does not cover:
It is important that you fully read and understand the warranty agreement for the implants you’re getting. Make sure you discuss this in detail with your surgeon, as it plays an important role in choosing the right breast implant for you.
If you’ve developed any concerning symptoms, (for example; loss of breast volume, asymmetry, deformity, fluid leakage, pain, or redness) you should organise a consultation with your plastic surgeon. If they suspect that you might have an implant rupture, contracture, or any other complication that’s covered by the product replacement policy of your respective implant brand, they will fill in the necessary paperwork to request replacement implants.
Implant producers also usually require documentation of the complications, such as; radiologic imaging results, as well as the defective implant once it has been removed.
Below are some symptoms that may indicate that your implants have lost their integrity and need replacing:
These symptoms can signify capsular contracture, implant rupture, or other breast implant-related complications. It’s very important that you visit your plastic surgeon as soon as possible if you develop any of these symptoms to make sure that everything is okay.
Many of our patients ask us how often they need to change their breast implants. Breast implants usually require replacement after 10 or so years. That being said, many patients have them for longer without any real problems. If you are satisfied with how your breasts look there’s no real reason to change your breast implants strictly at the 10-year mark.
Depending on where and when you had your implants done you may have a brand implant from; Motiva, Mentor, Allergan (Natrelle), Eurosilicone, Nagor, Sebbin or Silimed (called Sientra in the USA).
Other less common types include; Sebbin, PIP or even original Dow Corning implants
All Motiva Implants® are covered by one or more warranty programs. In addition to the standard warranties, Motiva offers a paid warranty that provides additional coverage to patients who wish to extend their warranty period.
