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If you had breast augmentation in the past ten years, you may be wondering if it’s time to replace your breast implants.

The truth is, the vast majority of breast implants will never need replacing because of medical reasons. Especially after a decade. Today’s advanced techniques and improved manufacturing practices have allowed for this.

Even so, you may have other reasons for not wanting your breast implants any longer.

How Long Breast Implants Last

Breast implants come with no guarantees. But what in life does, really? Most of the current available implants are very safe and last a bare minimum of ten years – as long as there are no complications.

Of course, how much longer your implant will last after that initial ten years is based on a number of factors. These include your health, the size and shape of your chosen implant, and your surgeon’s expertise.

One of the biggest determining factors, though, is the type of implant you chose.

Silicone

Of the two different types, silicone implants are the more resilient. They have only a .5% rupture rate per year so it’s not unusual for these to last for decades. In some cases, they may even last for a woman’s lifetime.

One of the major drawbacks of silicone, however, is that it’s more difficult to detect ruptures or other damage if they do occur. So while the implants can last a long time, patients need to stay up-to-date on checkups and stay in touch with their board-certified plastic surgeon.

Saline

By contrast, saline implants have a 1% rupture rate per year. Still quite minimal, but they are also more prone to shifting and rippling than silicone implants are. So while it’s possible for them to last for decades, it’s likely they will need some sort of maintenance every ten to fifteen years.

The benefit of a saline implant rupturing is that the body can absorb saline so the rupture is less serious.

So Is It Ever Really Time to Replace Your Breast Implants?

Outside of car accidents, trauma, or needle biopsies, it’s rare for a rupture to occur many years out from the initial surgery. So you likely won’t feel a medical need for replacing them. That said, there are still other reasons you may choose replacement surgery.

Perhaps you’re feeling like the size of the implant you chose is no longer a good fit. You may want to go bigger or smaller.

It’s also possible that as you’ve aged, your skin has become looser, your hormones have changed, and your body weight fluctuated. This can result in your breasts changing as well and the implants may no longer look natural.

Finally, tissue stretching and good ole’ gravity can cause breasts and implants to malposition in a variety of ways. They may be shifting sideways, bottoming out, or moving closer together.

All of these may warrant breast implant replacement surgery.

What Happens During Breast Implant Replacement Surgery?

Unless a longstanding rupture is involved, the replacement surgery is relatively simple and straightforward. And the recovery time will be minimal; usually only a couple of days.

A rupture that’s gone undetected, however, can result in capsular contracture.

Part of the healing process for the body is to form a capsule of fibrous scar tissue around any implanted device. The capsule not only creates a protective barrier, but it also assists in keeping the implant in place so as to avoid slippage.

But when the body goes into overdrive to protect itself from the “foreign” body – in this case, the ruptured implant – the scar tissue tightens around the implant and then constricts it. This is known as capsular contracture.

To treat the capsular contracture, the surgeon would need to perform a capsulectomy. And if there’s already too much inflammation to replace the implant, you may have to wait up to six months before you can get a new one. Recovery will also take longer.

The Choice Is Yours!

If you’ve had implants for more than a few years without complications, the chances are minuscule that you’ll need to replace them for medical reasons.

By the same token, if your current implants are no longer serving you or even making you feel self-conscious, then THAT’S the time to replace breast implants.

Contact us today to talk to our board-certified plastic surgeons. We’ll help you  We can answer any questions, address concerns, and put an action plan into place for you.

Summer’s almost here. It’s that time of year when you start showing more skin and seeing just how your body has changed over the winter. And with the pandemic, you might be noticing the impact of a couple of winters.

If you’re feeling self-conscious about filling out your bathing suit or other summer wear, this may be the year for breast augmentation surgery.

Breast implants could boost your confidence this summer. But what will be expected of you before and after the surgery? To address that, we’ve got the most complete breast implants checklist here for you.

BEFORE Pre-Surgery

Once you finally make an appointment to talk with a plastic surgeon, he or she will provide you with literature on the procedure. This can be a lot of information to absorb. There will also be an FDA-approved patient-decision checklist. The purpose of this list is to present the benefits and risks of getting implants.

The checklist covers topics such as what makes a successful breast implant candidate; situations when implants shouldn’t be used, the risks of undergoing the surgery; the importance of proper training and experience; and other options (where appropriate).

The patient-decision checklist is reviewed together by you and your surgeon.

Breast Implant Checklists

Once everything is agreed upon and you’ve decided to go ahead with the surgery, you’ll be given an opportunity to sign and initial throughout the patient-decision checklist. The checklist is then signed by your board-certified surgeon.

At that point, you’ll need to start tackling the next checklist – which is things you’ll need to do before the procedure.

Pre-Surgery

If you love a good smoke first thing in the morning or after a meal, you’ll need to get used to not having this. It’s crucial that you quit smoking a minimum of four weeks pre-op.

Also, get your work and other life affairs in order. You’ll need at least one week off from your job. Stock up on essential items and foods that are simple to make. (Soup comes to mind.) And be sure to get all of your prescriptions filled so you’ll have them after the surgery.

On the actual day of the surgery, you’ll need to wear loose clothing with a top that zips or buttons in the front. Don’t eat anything or take vitamins/medications unless instructed by the doctor. Refrain from wearing creams, lotions, or fragrances, or using hairspray on surgery day.

Finally, arrange to have a family member or friend drive you home after the surgery.

Post-Surgery

Once you arrive home, it’ll be important that you get plenty of rest to help the body heal. Keep your head and neck elevated using firm but comfortable pillows.

If you live alone, plan to have someone around who can help for at LEAST that first day back. You’ll have to avoid lifting, bending, or any sort of vigorous movement until the surgeon says it’s clear to do so.

Got hydration? If you don’t like water, now is the time to start embracing its benefits because you’ll need to drink at least eight ounces of water every two hours that first day back. Also, take your pain meds as prescribed, wear the recommended compression garments, and have ice packs ready to help with any swelling.

And be sure you have quick access to your surgeon’s contact info in case you experience any complications or just have questions.

Boost Your Confidence with Breast Implants

Now that you’ve gone over the ultimate breast implants checklist, you know exactly what to expect. So why not contact us today?

And get ready for an amazing and form-fitting summer!

Despite the jokes about large breasts in our culture, having large breasts can be both cumbersome and painful.

Large breasts can be the source of chronic back, neck, and shoulder strain. And women who have to wear extra supportive bras often suffer from cuts and abrasions on their shoulders from the straps.

On top of that, while larger breasts may contribute to an attractive silhouette for younger women, they are more prone to drooping as women age. This can create the illusion of being overweight – even on women who are not.

Breast reduction surgery can alleviate these discomforts by ridding the body of excess breast tissue while simultaneously tightening the skin and elevating the breast to create a more streamlined silhouette.

Breast Reduction for Women

One of the common traits women with very large breasts share is feeling awkward.

Large breasts can also impede a woman’s ability to exercise comfortably.

They’re also just plain uncomfortable. Not only do women feel the emotional displeasure of people staring at them, but the physical pain can be overwhelming. All of these can drain a woman’s confidence.

Plastic surgeons are sensitive to these issues. During a consultation, they consider the size and shape of the breasts, the elasticity of the patient’s skin, and the position of the nipples.

Doing so allows them to customize breast reduction options specifically suited to a woman’s unique individual body type.

Female Breast Reduction Procedure

During the breast reduction procedure, the surgeon removes excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin. This is done by making an incision and then removing the fat using a combination of liposuction and other excision techniques.

There are a couple of incision options.

With a lollipop incision, the incision is made around the areola and down to the breast crease. This is a good incision option for patients who are in need of a moderate reduction.

For women who need a significant reduction, the anchor incision is similar to the lollipop incision except the incision continues along the crease underneath the breast.

In both cases, the breast reduction will be accompanied by a breast lift to fully restore the shape and contour of the breast.

But women aren’t the only ones who struggle with the challenges of large breasts.

Male Breast Reduction

Did you know that around 65% percent of middle-aged and older men struggle with breasts that have a womanly appearance?

All men have breast glandular tissue. This is normal. But with the condition known as gynecomastia (which translated from the Greek means “woman-like breasts”), there is abnormal growth or excess breast tissue.

It turns out that fatty tissue in the chest is not sexist. It can gather in men in similar ways that it does in women. The degree to which this happens is dependent on factors including age, weight gain, and genetics.

What’s worse, it can be unresponsive to diet and exercise. So while the remainder of a man’s body might be toned and fit, he will still have breasts.  It’s an embarrassing situation.

Men in this situation can benefit from male breast reduction surgery to restore an appealing, more masculine appearance to their upper bodies.

Male Breast Reduction Procedure

Large male breasts can be caused by fatty tissue, excess glandular tissue, or a combination of both.

Male breast reduction is performed with liposuction to remove the excess fat followed by an incision around the areola to remove excess glandular tissue. Finally, the skin around the pectoral muscles is tightened to create a masculine physique.

It’s important to note that prior to male breast reduction, some lifestyle changes in diet and exercise may be necessary to ensure long-lasting results. These changes will also decrease the likelihood of male breast re-occurrence.

Could Breast Reduction Improve Your Life?

If you’re struggling with the challenges of overly large breasts, you don’t have to accept it as your destiny.

Breast reduction surgery can relieve the pain and/or embarrassment, while improving your physique, restoring your confidence, and creating a more balanced and proportional appearance.

So contact us today to set up a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.

And leave the embarrassment behind.