Replacing Your Breast Implants at Cosmetic Surgery Associates
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Posted on November 1, 2023 under Breast Implants
Breast implants remain a popular form of cosmetic surgery in North America. Most patients in Bethesda, Maryland, understand their implants will not last forever, with a replacement needed in the future. The proper care of breast implants helps keep patients healthy and avoid the chances of implant failure. By remaining healthy and taking care of your body, breast implants do not need to be replaced as often as some patients believe.
When Should You Replace Your Implants?
The patients of Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, and Dr. Richards understand how they must care for their breast implants. A common misconception about breast implants is that they need to be replaced every 10 to 20 years. The FDA has approved the use of breast implants for between 10 and 20 years, but this does not mean that the implant expires once it has reached this age. Only one in five patients need to replace their implants after ten years, with the majority seeing a prolonged period of use. Most patients only have to replace their breast implants once or twice in their lifetime.
When Should You Seek Help With Your Implants?
Since it can be difficult to diagnose these problems on your own, it’s often a good idea to schedule a consultation at Cosmetic Surgery Associates before the approved life of your implants is over. These are some reasons why your breast implants may need to be removed and/or replaced:
Hardening of Breast Implants
One common issue that breast augmentation patients face is the hardening of their breasts. This can be caused by capsular contracture, which is the hardening of scar tissue around the implant. Hard lumps in the breast, caused by calcium deposits around the implant, can also develop as a result of breast implants. Either of these conditions can be cause for removing or replacing your breast implants.
Ruptured Breast Implants
One of the rarer implications of needing a breast implant replacement is the rupturing of the breast implant. Breast implant rupture occurs in around two to twelve percent of breast implant recipients. Silicone implants can rupture completely, while saline implants can begin leaking a non-toxic solution. Most patients feel few symptoms of ruptured or leaking implants until their breasts become uneven or misshapen.
Pregnancy and Weight Gain
Certain bodily changes can lead to your breast implants needing to be replaced. During pregnancy, the breasts will first swell as you breastfeed and then go down in size, causing the position of the implants to shift. Similarly, if you have experienced significant weight loss or weight gain, the redistribution of fat in your body can also cause your breast implants to move.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are interested in exploring the option of breast implant replacement, schedule a consultation with Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, and Dr. Richards at Cosmetic Surgery Associates. To get started, fill out our online contact form today.
