When Should Breast Implants Be Replaced?
“I had my breast implants put in 28 years ago. My gynecologist thinks they look fine. My question is, when should they be replaced?” -Judith M., Newport Beach, CA
This is a very good question, Judith. I’m glad you asked because it’s one that we hear every week at our practice!
I’ll start with some brief background. The first silicone breast implants were inserted in the mid 1960s. By the mid-1970s, when I began doing surgery, breast implant procedures had become mainstream. During these early years, I don’t recall much discussion with manufacturers, other physicians, or even patients regarding the longevity of such implants. The assumption was that they would last forever and never need to be replaced! But boy, were we all na
