How Do I Know When My Breast Implants Need Replacing?
When you have made the decision to benefit from any type of cosmetic breast surgery it is unlikely that you have thought too much about if or when your implants may need to be replaced. It’s highly likely however that at some point you will need to consider this. Most implants these days have been designed to last a minimum of 10 years, and in some circumstances, this can be upto 20 years.
There are many reasons you may feel the need to replace your implants, they are not designed to last forever after all. You may have had a change in personal taste or lifestyle and the implants you initially chose no longer reflect who you are. Implants offer flexibility and can be adapted to suit who you are at any given stage of life. Your body goes through many changes over the years, either due to the natural ageing process or because of pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight fluctuation. It stands to reason that you will want to maintain your breast shape for as long as possible, and this may occasionally require replacements.
At Enhance Medical Group we are proud to offer one of the most trusted and well-designed breast implants on the market. We choose Mentor implants, part of the prestigious Johnson and Johnson group. With such a well-regarded name behind them you can be sure that you will be getting the best quality implants available. Their track record for safety and patient satisfaction is second to none. Despite this, you will probably need to consider replacing them in years to come.
In exceptional cases there may be a need to replace your implants sooner than the 10-20 year mark. Breast augmentation surgery is carried out thousands of times each year, so it is inevitable that there may be complications or issues that need to be rectified. Occasionally an implant may rupture or deflate slightly. This would require a replacement implant. However, when you choose a Mentor implant you have the added reassurance of becoming a member of the ‘Mentor promise protection plan.’ This is a warranty, backed by Mentor, that will give you peace of mind when choosing their implants. You will automatically be added to this plan upon undergoing your breast surgery wherever Mentor Implants are used. Mentor offer a lifetime product replacement for confirmed rupture or deflation. This does not cover ruptures due to use of roller coasters, for example. Contact Mentor directly to confirm how their warranty works. In the event of you needing to make use of the warranty you will need to contact Mentor directly. The warranty is offered by Mentor alone, not the cosmetic surgery provider that uses the Mentor branded implants.
Do you have to replace breast implants?
You should consider the lifespan of implants when you choose to go ahead with any breast augmentation. Although they are not designed to last forever, by choosing a product with a track record like Mentor then you should feel reassured that you will be getting the most out of your implants, both from a safety and longevity point of view.
Really, other than personal choice, the main reasons for replacing breast implants after 10-20 years are down to personal choice. They only actually NEED to be replaced in the event of an implant rupturing due to any of the reasons mentioned on the Mentor website, or due to a capsular contracture.
Implants are equipped with a tough outer shell, but that doesn’t mean they never rupture. Whilst only 1% of implants are reported to rupture each year, it is vital that we help you to recognise if this has happened, and to provide you with a solution. If you notice changes in your breast shape or size, increased pain or firmness in the area on swelling occurring over a few weeks then it is a good idea to speak to your surgeon to determine whether you need to consider replacing your implants. Capsular contracture is another reason to replace your implants. This happens when scar tissue forms around the implants but becomes too thick and firm, thus causing pain and discomfort. If you think you are experiencing this then you should also speak to your surgeon. In either case the implants can be easily removed and replaced. With the Mentor implants you have the added bonus of their lifetime product replacement plan for ruptured implants (see their website for more information).
This is one of the many reasons Enhance Medical Group chooses Mentor as their preferred supplier of breast implants.
They feel they offer the best selection and have the most up to date research and technology backing them up.
Do breast implants need to be replaced?
There are several reasons that you may decide to have your implants replaced. For some, changes in their lifestyle or personal circumstances can bring about that decision. For others, the decision may be made for them if they experience changes in the implant, which can happen over a number of years.
Not everyone who undergoes breast augmentation surgery will necessarily need to have them replaced, but it is certainly something you should consider at the beginning of your breast implant journey. A rough guide of 10 + years is often given as the minimum lifespan of implants. Usually, they will only need to be replaced if they begin to rupture or you start to experience changes in how your breasts look or feel. In this case it may be that scar tissue has formed and hardened around the implant. Removing the implant and the scar tissue, and replacing it with a fresh implant is the solution. With the Mentor promise protection plan you are covered for the lifetime of the implant if you experience ruptures or deflation (see Mentor website for recognised causes). They will replace upto 2 implants free of charge if this happens.
You may take the decision to change your implants due to other factors – pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight gain can all alter the size and shape of your breasts, with or with implants in place. Choosing to change your implants to reflect your current lifestyle is not unusual, and Enhance will always be able to advise you on the best way to go.
How Often Do You Have to replace breast implants?
During the consultation phase one of the most often asked questions is, ‘How often do you have to replace breast implants?’
As we have discussed, this varies from person to person. There are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration – your lifestyle, the type of implant, even your surgeon. Every procedure is as individual as you are. Providing you don’t experience any issues with rupturing or deflation, your implants should last at least 10 years. From time-to-time complications occur and these may result in your implants needing to be changed sooner. However, at Enhance we are proud providers of the Mentor implants by Johnson and Johnson. We are happy to report that Mentor provide all of their patients with the ‘Mentor promise protection plan.’ So, you can relax in the knowledge that you have the backing of a major corporation like Johnson and Johnson behind you, with years of research and experience to fall back on.