How long do breast implants last?

Capsular contracture or scar tissue around the implant is the most common problem we see.

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The round saline smooth implants, they last about 10 years. I would say the majority of patients at 10 years

are coming back, and that's due to rupture of the implants. It's a unidirectional valve. And over time, those valves will fail,

and they will leak through the valve. They can also develop small crease cracks in the shell. That's around the periphery of the implant. And that's more common with textured implants.

We make it aware during consultation, before we even book the patient for surgery, these are not lifetime devices.

Let's say the patient has consultation and then decides to have surgery, we do a second date of a pre-op

so that we can go over all the risks and complications with them, including capsular contracture, including rupture implant, including the need

for further and future surgeries. We want the patients to be well informed that this is not a one-time deal.

And we don't even know how long it's going to be before they need another operation. Capsular contracture or scar tissue around the implant

is the most common problem we see in the entire world. It doesn't matter if it's the United States, Argentina,

Brazil, Mexico. Scar tissue is very prevalent. Up to 35% in five years that patients

will be back in the operating room. Even with an intact implant, scar tissue is extremely common.

We don't even know the exact etiology of the capsular contracture. It can be due to a mild infection. It can be due to trauma causing tearing of the capsule, seroma

formation, and then thickening of the capsule, causing contraction, disfigurement, and pain. And that would be called a Baker IV capsular contracture,

requiring surgical correction not only for the appearance but because they're in severe pain.