Is it time to switch out your breast implants?

Categories: Breast

Modern breast implants made of silicone gel and saline are durable items. A breast implant cannot, however, be expected to last a lifetime. Historically, it was assumed that breast implants would last for about 10 years before they needed to be replaced, but this is not a strict rule. Some patients can safely keep their implants in place for a long time.

You will eventually need to get new implants because the skin and tissues in your breasts deteriorate just like the rest of you do. That said, everyone will have a different understanding of that point.

Unfortunately, some patients require breast revision surgery due to complications with their implants and/or the surrounding capsule. However, women typically think about having their breast implants exchanged because their aesthetic preferences have changed.

causes of breast implant replacement

Because there are so many different reasons why a patient might need a breast implant exchange, it is one of those procedures with a lot of moving parts. It might be as straightforward as deciding to switch from saline to silicone implants, or vice versa. Additionally, though uncommon, your implant may experience a complication like:

Implant malposition Rupture Capsular contracture

With saline implants, a rupture is obvious as soon as the implant starts to deflate. One of the many reasons why it is so crucial to visit your plastic surgeon annually to check the health of your breast implants is because this is less obvious with a silicone implant. A silicone implant integrity check with an MRI is also advised.

Capsular contracture is the term used to describe the hardening of the protective tissue capsule that your body develops naturally around any foreign object, including a breast implant. Not only might this hurt, but it might also have a negative impact on how your breasts look.

Implant malposition, as the name suggests, occurs when your implant shifts from its initial position as a result of weakened breast skin and tissue. It might drift in the direction of your armpit or below the inframammary fold, which is the crease under your breasts. Women who may have received implants that are larger than their bodies can support or who have implant malposition are at an increased risk.

Breast revision surgery is heavily influenced by evolving aesthetics.

But a shifting aesthetic is one of the main factors behind breast revision surgery. You might not want the same appearance if your initial implants were put in when you were in your 20s and you are now in your late 30s or early 40s. Fashion changes.

Your body may also no longer appear the same as a result of:

Pregnancy\sBreastfeeding\sMenopause\sAge

Many women gain weight, especially in their breasts, and may discover that they no longer require an implant with the same size. The implant itself probably won’t alter, but the soft tissue surrounding it will deteriorate with time and sag. Some women decide to completely remove their implants. The best option for you will depend on your particular anatomy and goals.

A face-to-face consultation for breast implant exchange is essential.

It is crucial to make an appointment for a face-to-face consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area who has extensive experience performing breast revision surgery if you are considering changing your implants. Although the procedure sounds simple, changing an implant is more complicated than changing a tire. Your surgeon will evaluate the following during your consultation:

your natural breast tissue’s condition
Skin elasticity and texture
the location and condition of your present implants
Nipple placement

You and your partner will talk about the best medical procedures for achieving your ideal appearance. This is going to involve a breast lift for a lot of patients.

You might require a breast lift.

When a patient with healthy breast skin and tissue simply wants to swap out her old implants for new ones that are the same size and shape, that is the simplest type of breast implant exchange procedure. As was previously mentioned, the majority of women who opt for this surgery do so for aesthetic reasons rather than because their implants have deteriorated to the point of becoming problematic.

The breast implant exchange trend has recently shifted smaller. While some patients continue to seek out larger implants to replace their current ones, the majority prefer to take the opposite path. The problem, of course, is that you will have extra skin and tissue if you remove an implant and either don’t replace it or replace it with a smaller size. You must combine your breast implant exchange with a breast lift in order to give your new breasts the ideal contour.

fat transfer to the breasts to give them better shape

Another technique for enhancing the size and shape of your breasts is fat grafting. For the majority of patients, fat grafting to the breasts is a way to improve their shape, though some may be able to consider it as a standalone procedure in place of a smaller implant. In a patient who is extremely thin, your plastic surgeon might use it to hide the edges of an implant or to give the upper pole of the breast more fullness.

The majority of women desire full, lush breasts in the upper half. This isn’t the same as cleavage. Your anatomy determines the latter. The distance between your nipples determines your cleavage because any breast implant must be centered behind it. However, adding the right amount of fat to the breast’s upper half can contribute to giving it the full, soft appearance that is so in vogue right now.

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