Do You Need to Change Your Breast Implants?

I’d like to talk to you about the “shelf life” of breast implants. Atlanta TV commercials tell us that “diamonds are forever,” right? Unfortunately, breast implants aren’t.

Why Replace Breast Implants?

There are several reasons you might wish to switch out your implants in a procedure called a breast implant revision. Here are a few of them:

1.    A desire to change implant size (larger or smaller)

2.    A desire for a change in shape or projection

3.    A wish to switch from saline-filled to gel-filled or vice versa

4.    A capsular contracture

5.    Deflation of saline implants (one or both)

6.    Visible wrinkling, rippling, bottoming out or the presence of the “double bubble”

7.    Breast sagging that requires implant changes during a breast lift. It’s not always necessary to replace the implants in a breast lift performed long after breast implants were inserted. Much depends on the age of the implants and whether or not my patient is satisfied with the size of her breasts, not withstanding her dissatisfaction with the sagging of them.

How Long Do Implants Last?

While most women are told that their implants will last about ten years, some women will have no need or desire to change implants for 20 years. In other words, it varies among women.

Will There Be More Scars if I Replace My Breast Implants?

Usually no. Unless the scars are hypertrophic, the same incisions are used as were used in the initial breast augmentation procedure.

How Do I Know If My Breast Implants are “Too Old?”

Unless you have one of the problems noted in the list above, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. If you have any concerns about your implants, however, set an appointment to see me. Remember, in saline-filled implants a rupture is obvious, but a gel-filled implant failure isn’t. If you’re experiencing “women’s intuition” about your implants, come in and I’ll examine you. If I think you need an MRI to identify a possible gel-filled implant failure, I’ll tell you. If we aren’t sure, you can decide if you want to have an MRI. But be seen and put your mind at rest about it.

To your health and beauty,

Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta, GA Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Heidi: She now wants smaller breast implants--or maybe just more press

Well, it seems that those G-cups Heidi Montag chose to have implanted less than a year ago have outlived their usefulness for her.  I thought I read somewhere shortly after her initial 10 surgeries (!) that she really wanted her breasts to be even larger, but a G cup was the best she could do at the moment.  Now, she's telling Life and Style magazine that those big breasts are causing her back pain and making it difficult to exercise---is she really surprised?!  Women with truly natural G-cup breasts typically see me for breast REDUCTIONS. 

Oh, and the real drama now is that her plastic surgeon, Dr. Frank Ryan, died in a tragic auto accident recently.  I'm certainly saddened for his family, but there is definitely no plastic-surgeon shortage in California, and I think it should be pretty easy for Heidi to find someone capable of handling her revision surgery.  I guess this was the latest angle she had to extend her 15 minutes.

Fighting Gravity, Two Breasts at a Time

We all know that gravity is not our friend. Nobody likes sagging or drooping. I had the great pleasure of connecting with some dynamic women to talk about breast health: breast cancer screening, breast surgery, and great bra support.

So who were these dynamic women? Susan Nethero and the ladies of Intimacy the Bra Fit Specialists and Karyn Greer from WXIA 11 Alive! You can see the final edit tomorrow night (March 11) on 11 Alive news at 11p and again Friday morning (March 12).

Thanks for stopping by here.