AESTHETIC NEWS
Breast implants aren’t permanent. Their lifespan is between 10 and 20 years. However, most women have them for longer than a decade before needing a replacement. Similarly, some women have their implants longer than 20 years. Depending on your age at the time of your initial surgery, you can generally expect to need one or two replacements during your lifetime.
Sometimes, it’s possible to require a breast implant revision before the 10-year mark because you may develop complications. Here are the signs that you likely need a breast implant revision:
Scar tissue is an inescapable part of any surgery. In most cases, however, it shouldn’t cause any problems. In fact, scar tissue will help your implant stay in place. However, some patients can develop capsular contractures. This occurs when the body overreacts to the implant and creates significant amounts of hard, dense scar tissue. Minor capsular contracture won’t cause symptoms, but if it’s severe, it can cause a hard feel and misshapen appearance. Pain can occasionally occur, as well. If you suspect you may have excessive scar tissue, it could be time for a breast implant revision.
It’s rare for a breast implant to rupture, but it happens. When a saline implant ruptures, the saline will absorb harmlessly into the surrounding tissue and the breast will decrease in size, appear uneven, or acquire hard knots. It may even cause some discomfort and tingling. The rupture of a silicone implant is harder to detect because silicone retains its shape. Watch out for worsening pain, firmness, swelling, and changes in breast shape over a period of a few weeks.
Some implants can shift slightly over time, which is perfectly normal. However, watch out for dramatic shifts. This rare complication can occur if the implant pocket is too large for the implant or if the muscle between the breasts has detached. This can happen due to the removal of excessive amounts of tissue in the area. If you develop this complication, it may be time to see a different plastic surgeon than the one who initially performed the surgery.
You’ll likely know something is wrong with your implants if a complication develops–because you will probably experience symptoms such as the following:
The decision to have another plastic surgery is not made lightly–particularly if your implants haven’t ruptured or resulted in other complications. Make sure you choose a plastic surgeon you can trust.
Dr. Thomas Loeb’s reputation for clinical excellence and exceptional aesthetics is why many patients choose him for their breast implant revision. With an emphasis on patient health and safety, Dr. Loeb provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures. Contact our Manhattan office today to request a consultation for breast implants in NYC.
