Breast implant revisionwhen to do it?
There are more and more women with breast implants, and some have had them for a long time.
A question that arises for those undergoing breast augmentation is whether or not the need to change prostheses in the future by undergoing further plastic surgery.
While a few years ago the answer to this question was undoubtedly yes, today it is not possible to give a definitive answer.
The body goes through various changes over time and the breasts age and can increase or decrease depending on weight fluctuations.
When you have a breast implant fitted, it doesn't mean that your breasts won't change over the course of your life, or that the implant you initially chose will be what you want after a few years.
Although breast augmentation is a very gratifying procedure for most women, some, for various reasons, feel that they can still improve the appearance of their breasts.
Plastic surgeons should warn breast augmentation patients about the need to change the prosthesis at some point in their future lives.
The patient should be aware of this possibility, but it is also important to emphasise that advances in research and medicine have brought increasingly safe, resistant and durable implants.
How long do breast implants last?
There is no right answer to this question.
While older prostheses had a general shelf life of ten years, nowadays you can't say that breast implants don't have a certain shelf life or that they will last exactly 10, 15 or 20 years. On the other hand, you can't say that they'll last a lifetime either.
How long implants last depends on each patient and on various external factors and the body itself. And these factors are beyond the control of the plastic surgeon and the implant manufacturer.
For this reason, it can happen that a patient is operated on at a very young age and has never had to change the prostheses over time, or that another patient is operated on at an older age and has to replace the implants after a while.
Breast prostheses have been continually improved by manufacturers to provide better results and reduce the associated complications.
As a general rule, they should only be replaced if they have certain problems, such as:
- capsular contracture;
- rotation;
- breakage.
According to a study by FDA - Food and Drug Administration, which followed hundreds of patients for ten years after they underwent breast augmentation, 91% of the implants were intact after that time.
Implants do not have an expiry date, but there are situations that trigger the need to replace the breast prosthesis, regardless of when the surgery was performed. As a result, it is essential to keep up with your doctor on a regular basis to ensure that the implants remain in good condition, even over the years.
WHEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY IMPLANTS?
Women who seek help to replace their implants usually do so because:
- 1) No be satisfied with the aesthetic result - in this case, women want to change the shape or size of their breasts again after having undergone a previous breast augmentation. Some patients seek help because they think the implants are positioned in a way they don't like, because they want to increase or reduce the volume of the implant, because their breasts have sagged or because they think the implants are too visible.
This dissatisfaction can occur simply because a woman's aesthetic tastes have changed over time, or due to major weight fluctuations, pregnancy, among other reasons.
It can even be said that the majority of cases in which women change implants are due to aesthetic reasons and not any complications.
- 2) No guarantee of the quality of the implants that were previously placed - some women have had their surgeries in other countries or, for some other reason, don't know which implants they have. The issue of PIP prostheses (Poly Implant Protheses) has raised doubts among many patients who have opted to exchange their implants for others of guaranteed quality.
- 3) Present a capsular contracturecapsular contracture is one of the possible complications of breast augmentation. This is a reaction of the body after the implant has been placed, stiffening the breast and causing pain, as it forms a fibrous capsule - or film - around the prosthesis. However, if quality implants are used and the surgery is carried out using the appropriate techniques and means, the risk of having a capsular contracture is less than 1%, although the chances increase over the years. In theory, the better the quality of the implants used, the less likely it is to develop capsular contracture. However, there are various factors that cannot always be explained that can lead to this condition appearing. In these cases, there are various solutions to the problem that allow excellent aesthetic results to be achieved.
- 4) Implant issues - Nowadays, cases of implant rupture are very rare, resulting mainly from trauma. However, with some older implants it is possible to see complications such as deflation (in the case of serum prostheses).
- 5) Implant rupture - although, as mentioned, the risk of this happening is very low. When prostheses break, they must be replaced. The risk of rupture is greater the lower the quality of the implant. Pain, hardening of the breasts or loss of volume can indicate a ruptured implant. Some of the most common situations that can cause prostheses to rupture are falls, road accidents and lack of proper post-operative care.
Importance of periodic monitoring
Several signs may suggest the need for consult your surgeon to assess the need to replace breast implants. For example, when a woman feels pain or notices a change in the appearance of her breasts.
In addition, it is recommended that you visit your plastic surgeon on a regular basis for assessment and follow-up appointments. During these appointments, the condition of the prostheses and the possible need to remove or replace them will be assessed. These appointments are also essential to preserve the aesthetic result.
It is also necessary to performing ultrasound examinations as often as suggested by the doctor, or at the doctor's request, to assess the integrity of the implant and the health of the breast.
With the experience she has acquired throughout her activity in breast reconstruction, her training in the United States and her continuous updating work, Dr Luísa Magalhães Ramos and her entire team will provide you with quality medical care and all the support you need.
