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If you’re considering breast implants, you probably have a lot of questions. You’ll need to make plenty of essential decisions before you commit to the procedure. Which surgeon to trust is the first and most crucial of these. You’ll want to find someone with the training, skills, and experience to produce excellent results.

Another question high on the list for most women is how long their implants will last before they’ll need to have them removed and replaced. It’s true that breast implants don’t last forever, but there’s a common misconception that women with breast implants need to get them replaced on a set schedule every few years. Here are the facts about how long implants last.

Breast Implants Don’t Have Expiration Dates

There’s no hard deadline for when you will need to have another surgery to replace your implants. What we have to work with are averages, which give an idea of what to expect, but don’t predict what your unique experience will be.

Breast implants tend to last 11 to 15 years, most commonly because women’s ideals for their bodies change over time. Some women choose to exchange larger implants for smaller ones – sometimes for comfort as they adopt a more active lifestyle or because they want a slimmer figure. An even greater number of women choose to replace smaller implants with larger ones. The effects of aging on the body and breasts can also change the original implant results and lead women to have them replaced. These are all personal decisions that have nothing to do with implant durability, but they factor into the average times before women get their implants replaced.

When considering implant durability and the incidence of medical issues that may require replacement, the timelines spread over a wide range. Some implants last a lifetime with no problems. Other women have complications with their implants within the first few years. The great majority of implants — between 80 and 90% — last 10 years without complications. Many last more than 20 years.

What Kinds of Problems Can Occur?

Two basic kinds of problems can occur that require implant replacement or removal.

The first is a problem with the implant itself — when it leaks or ruptures. The rupture of a saline implant creates a cosmetic issue when it deflates, but not a health risk. The breast loses volume and the body naturally processes the saline fluid. A silicone implant rupture may not change the breast appearance right away, but if a breast exam or MRI detects this issue, you should have the implant and the leaked silicone removed within a few months.

The second problem with implants can be the body’s reaction to them. The body always creates a shell of scar tissue around medical devices, called a capsule. But in rare cases, this capsule thickens and hardens, in a condition called “capsular contracture,” putting extra pressure on the implant and sometimes causing discomfort or pain. When this happens, a surgeon will need to remove the hardened capsular tissue and replace the implant.

What the Numbers Mean for You

What do you do with these averages and possibilities? Go into breast augmentation knowing that you may need to have your implants replaced or removed at some point in the future. While your implants could last a lifetime, that doesn’t mean they will.

It’s also crucial to check your breasts regularly for implant problems. You’ll know right away, by looking at your breasts, if a saline implant ruptures. We recommend regular check-ins with your doctor to watch for signs of a silicone implant leak or capsular contracture.

Learn More About Breast Augmentation in Beverly Hills

Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery have developed an impeccable reputation for stunning, natural-looking cosmetic treatment and plastic surgery results, attracting patients from all over the world. Contact our practice today at (310) 746-5475 or send an online request to schedule a consultation.

You’re happy with your lean runner’s body, but wish you had more of a figure up top. If you’ve dismissed breast augmentation as a change that would get in the way of your fitness goals, think again. With the right choices, you can have it all — a more feminine figure and a commitment to healthy physical activity. A significant number of competitive runners and cyclists have had breast augmentation surgery for the same reason, and carried on with their push for faster times. 

In this article, we’ll discuss some key choices and answer some commonly asked questions.

Freedom of Movement

Size and shape matter in breast implants, both for your looks and for your ability to run with comfort. To avoid any interference with your arm movement while you run, you’ll want to minimize “spill-out” to the sides of your breasts. You also want to avoid adding too much weight to your chest with overly large implants to avoid back strain and chafing, not to mention slowing your uphill pace. 

If your body is lean from running, you’re probably not looking for a big increase in breast size anyway — it could give you an unbalanced appearance. So you might think C cup rather than D cup. That’s in keeping with an overall trend of more modest augmentations. If you do go for a larger size, a well-fitted sports bra can help you stay comfortable on the road and track.

Talk with the surgeon, too, about the shape of the implants. A higher-profile implant — one with a narrower base and more forward projection — will have less spread to the sides than will a lower-profile implant — one with a wide base. Of course, the choice of implant size and shape should be whatever provides the most natural fit with your anatomy.

Placement

A surgeon can place breast implants either beneath the chest wall muscles (subpectoral placement) or above them (subglandular placement), and each choice has its advantages. 

If you lift weights or are a competitive sprinter, subglandular placement is probably the better choice. When implants are below the muscles, the intense contractions involved in building upper-body strength can distort the implants or shift their position.

If you’re like most runners, with a slender upper body profile and no plans for a more muscular chest, subpectoral placement may be more comfortable. But either placement option should be fine. Your plastic surgeon can explain which of the options will give you the most natural breast look and feel.

Silicone or Saline?

The choice of silicone or saline implants is another decision with several factors to consider. If you are very thin, with little body fat or breast tissue, the softer silicone implants may produce a more natural look and feel than saline implants. But neither option has an absolute advantage for all runners.

Will Implants Hold up Under the Stresses of Running?

Some female athletes are concerned about the durability of implants. Remember, these are medical devices designed to withstand significant trauma, such as hitting the steering wheel in a car accident. So the movement of running won’t affect the implants themselves. To avoid stretching the skin of your breasts when running after augmentation, it’s a good idea to wear a well-fitting sports bra.

Timing

The timing of the procedure is the final consideration. You will need to have some downtime to heal. That means at least two weeks with no strenuous exercise, then a gradual buildup to your normal training and competition routine. 

Many runners schedule the procedure soon after their most important race of the year, when they will have downtime for physical recovery anyway. Or, they plan the procedure for the winter months, when they would ordinarily be on a lighter training routine.

As you begin to resume your running routine, get a professional fitting for a sports bra with extra support. With appropriate care, and without pushing yourself too hard or too fast, you should be back in your normal routine in a few weeks.

Get a Free Professional Consultation

Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery have developed an impeccable reputation for their stunning, natural-looking results and consistently high level of patient satisfaction, and they have experience working with athletes. Contact them today at 310-746-5475 or send an online request to schedule a complimentary consultation.

A breast revision cosmetic surgery procedure is usually more complicated than the original breast augmentation procedure.

However, the steps involved in preparing for a breast revision surgery will be quite similar to the previous breast enhancement procedure. The surgeon will elaborate on these steps in detail during the initial consultation.

Patients who prepare adequately for the surgery usually experience lesser pre-operative anxiety and have a better chance of attaining safe and predictable outcomes. Devoted plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides breast implant revision to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations in The Golden State.

Preparation Instructions

The below mentioned guidelines will enable a patient to prepare sufficiently for breast revision plastic surgery:

• Arrange to have medical records sent from the physician and specialists directly to the surgeon’s office.
• Enlist all medications such as prescription meds, NSAIDs, blood thinners, herbal supplements, and vitamins that the patient currently uses.
• Get mammograms or medical tests done as directed by the surgeon.
• In case any prescription meds schedule needs to be altered prior to the surgery, have the surgeon speak to the prescribing physician.
• In case the patient smokes, they need to quit smoking for the duration specified by the surgeon.
• Complete any urgent tasks at home or work prior to the procedure to enjoy a relaxed and comfortable recovery.
• Ask a family member or friend or employ a caregiver to help during the initial recovery period, as necessary.
• The patient should ask a responsible person to drive them back home following the revision procedure.

The patient should follow the surgeon’s guidelines dedicatedly to prepare for the surgery to ensure her own safety.

Do’s and Don’ts

The surgeon’s staff may provide a copy of common surgery guidelines or do’s and don’ts to help the patient prepare for the breast revision procedure. These guidelines may include:

• Avoid the use of ibuprofen, aspirin, and other blood thinners as well as NSAIDs for a minimum of two weeks prior to the surgery.
• Do not take vitamin C, vitamin E, homeopathic remedies, herbal medicines, and supplements for at least two to four weeks prior to the procedure.
• Refrain from wearing makeup, body piercings, jewelry, or contact lenses to the surgical venue.
• Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes on the surgery day. The top should be front-open as the surgery involves the upper body.
• Do not take alcohol for a minimum of 48 hours before the procedure.
• In case the breast revision surgery requires the use of general anesthesia, avoid eating and drinking for eight hours before the procedure.
• Patients with diabetes should have their parameters evaluated on the morning of the procedure.

Some patients may experience pre-operative stress and anxiety a day before the procedure. The surgeon may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for the patient to take the night before the surgery in such cases.

Astute cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and other towns and cities in this part of the country for breast implant revision surgery.