According to the FDA, women need to replace their breast implants after every ten years. Even though most of the implants do come with a warranty for lifetime, they do not actually last that long. The aging process, childbirth, and weight fluctuations tend to impact the projection as well as dimension of the breast implants, making replacement a necessity. To know more, please check out the given discussion right now.
Longevity of Saline and Silicone Breast Implants
According to the experts performing Chevy Chase MD in plastic surgery, saline and silicone implants have the same lifespan though there is a distinction. When a silicone implant tears, the gel remains inside the scar tissue, and do not exhibit any symptom. The tear can only be detected via MRI or ultrasound. On the other hand, when a saline implant tears, the saltwater is absorbed by the rest of the body, and the breast loses its fullness or visibly deflates.
A Brief Note on the Breast Implant Replacement Procedure
Breast implant replacement is similar to the initial implant insertion procedure. You may wish to change the implants because you wore them for years and you wish to now switch from silicone to saline or vice versa. Some women also consider replacement because they are worried about developing implant associate anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
It must be noted that implant replacement has a wide range of complications – complications that did not occur during the original augmentation mammoplasty. Excessive scar tissue, for instance, can make replacement quite difficult. If you are getting rid of the implants due to capsular contracture, scars around the implants that inflicted pain or contributed to visual change, the procedure becomes lengthy and tricky.
Selecting Breast Implants
When planning implant replacement, the patients must consult a board-certified medical professional to assess the present situation. During the consultation, the professional will try gaining an understanding of the patients’ aesthetic goals and help them determine the best shape, type, and size of the implant.
When the patients wish to change the implants, they usually think of changing the size. Many women who had large implants placed in their youth now wants smaller ones because large implants compel them to look too bulky or busty, and also feels heavy.
According to the surgeons providing the best breast augmentation in Chevy Chase, women who are replacing the implants due to sagging or deflation, may however prefer larger implants. By placing larger implants, the sagging is eliminated and volume increased.
Procedures Performed Together With Implant Replacement
While larger implants are able to fix postpartum breast alterations in certain patients, it is not unfortunately enough. If your breasts have changed due to pregnancy or weight loss, you may have to opt for a breast lift simultaneously. You can optimize the downtime by having other procedures such as blepharoplasty, liposuction, and abdominoplasty.
Recovering from Implant Replacement
Although the recovery does depend on the health of the patient and the specifics of the entire procedure, the healing process is less uncomfortable than the initial surgery. You can return to your daily routine after two weeks but make sure to avoid strenuous physical activities for a month or so. Allow the new implants to settle down and the side-effects to subside.
Breast implant replacement enables the patients to enhance the result of all the earlier breast surgeries. Besides changing the size and shape of the breasts so they look aesthetically appealing, implant replacement attained popularity because it can be paired with other cosmetic treatments.
Summary:
There are many reasons for which women consider replacing their implants. The implants may have sagged, ruptured, or just became old. Whatever the reason is, make sure you have enough knowledge about implant replacement before you actually opt for it
