What to Know About Breast Implants and Aging
Posted September 06, 2024 in Breast Implants
As we age, our bodies naturally undergo various changes, and breast implants are no exception. Understanding how aging affects breast implants can help individuals make informed decisions about their long-term aesthetic goals and health. This blog will explain how certain factors, such as skin elasticity, health considerations, and changes in aesthetic preferences, can impact how you feel about your breast implants over time and the options available to address them.
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Do Breast Implants Last Forever?
When you choose to undergo breast augmentation surgery, you’re likely not thinking about how you may feel about your implants years in the future. Breast implants, both silicone and saline, are designed to last at least 10 years and sometimes up to 15 or 20. Once your implants get to a certain age, the risk for leaks and ruptures increases, so it is recommended that you undergo breast revision surgery to remove or replace them.
However, a lot can happen in the years between getting breast augmentation and the decision to remove or replace them. The natural aging process causes changes to your skin and body shape. Your aesthetic preferences might change, and breast implants may not be in line with what you want. You may develop health issues that impact whether or not you decide to keep your implants. Below, we explore some of the factors that may inform your decision.
The Effects of Aging and Gravity
Changes to your skin are some of the most noticeable indicators of age. Over time, the existing collagen and elastin fibers in your skin start to become brittle, causing a lack of elasticity. Combined with the slower production of new collagen and elastin, your skin can’t stretch and “bounce back” as easily as it once could. Add the natural weight of your breasts and the effects of gravity, and you may notice that your once-perky bosoms are slowly migrating south. Replacing your implants with a smaller size, removing them, getting a breast lift, or a combination of any of those options are ways to address drooping breasts.
Aesthetic Preferences
Everyone evolves over time, learning more about who they are and the image they wish to project. That’s why some women choose to remove their breast implants as they get older or replace them with a different size. If you’ve decided that breast implants no longer fit your more active lifestyle or your personal aesthetic, changing their size or removing them altogether is something you can discuss when you come in for your breast revision consultation.
Health Considerations
Many people experience changes in their health over time that may impact their decision to replace or remove their breast implants. Certain autoimmune conditions, heart conditions, or diabetes may make it more challenging to undergo elective surgery safely. Those same conditions may also increase risks for complications during healing or extend the recovery process. When you are considering replacing your implants, make sure that you let your surgeon know of any changes to your health or any conditions you may have that may make more extensive cosmetic surgery inadvisable.
What Are Options for Breast Implant Revision?
Implant Removal With Replacement
If you decide to remove and replace your implants, you have the choice of getting the same size and material as your original implants, or you can change it up. You may wish to increase or decrease their size or change from saline to silicone implants. Whatever you choose, you may also want to add a breast lift to your revision to ensure that your breasts and nipples are correctly positioned on your chest.
Implant Removal Without Replacement
If you decide to remove your implants altogether, you may have some sagging due to the volume of the implants being removed, as well as the natural aging process. A breast lift is an excellent option to address this, as it not only elevates your breasts back to a more youthful position but also eliminates excess skin and reshapes your breast tissue into a pleasing contour.
Scar Tissue Management
During implant revision, addressing scar tissue can be an essential part of the procedure. Techniques such as capsulectomy (removal of the scar tissue capsule surrounding the implant), capsulotomy (surgically releasing the capsule to relieve tightness or distortion), and internal capsulorrhaphy (adjusting the implant pocket to change its position or support the implant better) can be applied to improve outcomes, particularly in cases of capsular contracture or implant malposition.
Ready to Learn More About Breast Augmentation in Houston, TX?
Breast augmentation is a completely customizable surgery that can help restore your confidence in your body and give you a more curvy contour. You can add a breast lift to your augmentation or even make it a part of a Mommy Makeover—the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re getting breast implants for the first time, replacing them, or removing them altogether, Dr. Mennen T. Gallas will work with you to ensure that you are getting the results you desire. To schedule a consultation, call Gallas Plastic Surgery and Vein Center today at (281) 646-1114 or complete the online contact form.
