Cosmetic Surgery Charleston Dr. Widenhouse Blog

In the past, women seeking breast augmentation were told to have their breast implants replaced every ten years, but we don’t currently recommend it. Instead, it’s important to replace your breast implants when you are no longer getting good results from them. 

If you suffer a ruptured breast implant, it’s time to replace them. For saline breast implants, you will know when they have ruptured, since your body will absorb the safe saline solution, causing your breast to deflate. For silicone gel breast implants, you may not know if they have ruptured, since the silicone gel will remain in the implant or in the capsule your body places around the implant. Usually a ruptured silicone implant can be detected through a mammogram or ultrasound,

Otherwise, it’s only time to replace old breast implants when you are no longer happy with their appearance. You may have decided that your breast implants no longer reflect your personal style. Breast implants placed when you were younger may be too large or just not appropriate to your currently self-image.

Just as natural breasts do, augmented breasts can begin to sag. This is true whether the breast implants are placed above the muscle or below. Once your breast implants have begun to sag to the point that they are no longer attractive, you may want to have them replaced