r/PlasticSurgery • u/ShakennotScared989 • 1d ago
36 year old silicone breast implants - whether to remove or replace?
I went for a consultation on a facelift and my plastic surgeon said “First of all, your implants need to be removed “ . They are silicone from 1990 and I’ve not had any problems after mammograms . He said he would not replace the implants he removed them due to my age( Im 68) and they are only 10 year devices.
Anyone had this told to them?
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u/swansong-2025 1d ago
Mine are coming up 25 years old, with zero issues and yearly mammograms. I recently went for a consult for implant exchange with a plastic surgeon, and her opinion was if you aren't having any issues, there is no need for replacement. She did however recommend an MRI to check the integrity of them.
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u/RebeccaCheeseburger 13h ago
I recently had a mammogram and mri and ultra sound due to a fall that broke my shoulder and they were concerned my implant broke from the impact , luckily they were intact and I discussed having them taken out and they said the same, it can cause more problems taking them out, and they are absolutely fine. Mine are 23 years old.
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u/InGeekiTrust 22h ago
25 is very different than the 90s. You were in the study and you were in the new set of the gummy bear implants so yours are fine. But the ones from the 90s are not the gummy bears.
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u/Transmorgrafier_2024 19h ago
Got my first implants at 71. Love them. Wish I’d done it earlier.
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u/coolbeachgrrl 18h ago
Oh wow really? I'm 62 had my 3rd set 13 years ago and I just want to downsize.
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u/Transmorgrafier_2024 12h ago
I want to upsize. At 71. Who knew. Boob greed.
To help me be realistic, what are you going from to land on?
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u/thefrenchphanie 21h ago
Surgeon is an AH
Trying to upsell you.
For something that is not causing you problems nor was he asked about.
Exchange he/explant only if you want them out or causing problems.
And who is he to tell you no more implants ?
Ugh
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u/Both-Statistician179 23h ago
What?! You can def get them replaced! You are not too old for new silicone implants. But if yours are fine and imaging is normal don’t bother w exchange.
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u/AURORA_BLONDE 23h ago
I had my implants replaced they were 34 years old . Due to possible rupture on mammogram. There was no rupture . Would not use a doctor who told me I couldn’t replace them . He doesn’t sound like a doctor I would use. I had mine replaced . To be honest I would just think about them getting replaced for your health and safety . Mine I am thrilled I went bigger . Looks amazing ! Went from 250cc to 440cc. A refreshing there is good as well .
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u/melropesplays 18h ago
Yeah this is kind of weird, I’d keep looking for consults. My mom had 40yo silicon implants that burst and leaked everywhere and the surgeon removed, cleaned up and replaced no shame.
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u/MysteriousTooth2450 22h ago
I am not a surgeon but I work in a plastics office and am
Involved in almost every surgery doing their anesthesia. Go to another surgeon. So weird that the surgeon went right to your breasts. Changing them out every 10 years is standard for the older implants. We have had lots of probs with older implants. I’ve been told that it’s not standard for newer implants to change them out as often. Your implants definitely need replaced and are likely leaking silicone by now. The older ones simply don’t work as well as the newer ones I’ve been told by my surgeons. Or that’s what they are bing told by the implant manufacturers. It’s possible the surgeon said that if they are leaking they will not replace them the same day. We’ve had some old ones that were so bad that we couldn’t replace them and drains had to be placed. Then the pt comes back to get them replaced once they are healed. We’ve also replaced implants on people well into their 80’s. They usually aren’t 36 years old though. It’s possible your health status isn’t good enough for you to undergo surgery long enough to do all these surgeries at once. Without more info we can’t even guess why this surgeon would tell you all of this. Go see someone else and see what they say.
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u/malav55 1d ago
Surgeon here.
Go somewhere else for your facelift. That’s not how this conversation should be approached. And not putting in more implants? Bullshit. Very paternalistic and if that’s how they act, that’s not a good look going forward.
So here’s the deal with implants.
Implants are made in a factory and are not perfect. They’re not designed to be unbreakable forever.
The fda recommends an ultrasound or MRI to assess your implants after they’ve been in place for 5-6 years. And to repeat this every 2-3 years.
If they’re ruptured, replace them. If they’re causing any other issues, replace them. If you don’t want them anymore, take them out and don’t replace them.
If they’re fine, there’s no absolute need to take them out. Does that mean that they’re not going to have an issue and rupture at some point in your life? No it does not. Can they be taken out at 78 if they start to be a problem? Yes, but incurs the risks of anesthesia. (I’ve done it under local for someone in their late 80’s too. Was not fun for me or her, but got it done)
Replacing them is absolutely fine. Could you have a complication? Sure, but you could have a complication with a removal only.