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I had my breast implants done about 11 years ago. I want to know if I can get them...

Q:

I had my breast implants done about 11 years ago. I want to know if I can get them re-done. They are sagging and have lost their lovely perky nature! I'm not sure what happened. Is this common? Im 29 years old, have a skinny upper body, and work out often. I'm worried if they might be leaking or have some other problem.

A:

The current appearance of your breasts may be due to many factors but to answer your question this is not unusual.

Breast implants are essentially weights which are being added to the breast.  Position of the implant is important as is the quality of your skin.  Cycles of gain and loss or engorgement and deflation will also impact the appearance of the breasts over time. Skin is not a support structure - it is a veneer and gradually loses elasticity over time.

Deflated saline implants will go flat and be obvious to you whereas silicone implants will require a study to determine if they have ruptured.  Sono or MRI are good for this. A good clinical exam will also be helpful.

The good news is there is a simple solution for whatever your issue is.  It is most likely going to require a surgical procedure but the results are usually excellent.

Your options include a lift if you are pleased with your breast volume, a larger implant if your skin is only mildly loose (but I am not a fan of this), or an implant exchange and a breast lift.

Seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you make this decision.

Good luck.

A:

Implants are not lifetime devices, I tell my patients.  They are man made.  There is much debate as to when to change older breast implants.  Honestly, the best way to check is to go see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.  If I were you, I would also take my latest mammogram if you have one to let him look at to assess if the implant is broken.  Most likely you have saline implants, based on your age.  You'll know when they break, as you will go flat.  You mention that you work out a lot.  If your implants were placed under the muscle, and you work out your chest a lot, that could possibly be the reason that they are now looking a bit funky, as the muscle building can change the height of the inframammary crease.  I have my patients come in every year after their implants are ten years old to evaluate the implant.  A physical exam will help with the story a lot.  

Good luck.

A:

Consult your plastic surgeon who performed your surgery, and another Board Certified Plastic Surgeon if you would like a second opinion.   Have a complete examination, and tests, if needed, to determine the condition of the implants.  This will assess if there is really drooping (Ptosis) of the breasts in which case you may need a lift and change of implants.

A:

The simple answer to your question is breast implants can usually be re-done.  The harder question to answer is what procedure needs to be performed for you.  That answer will be easy for a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to determine based on an evaluation of you.  He or she will consider your desires and examine you.  As you can tell from the other answers there are several potential reasons why they “lost their lovely perky nature.”

I would agree with consulting your original Plastic Surgeon (hopefully he or she is Board Certified by The American Board of PlasticSurggery).  If you are seeking a second opinion, besides taking your mammogram with you (if one was done), it would be helpful to have information concerning your first surgery, especially what implants were placed - saline or gel and the size.   If you need to find a Plastic Surgeon, certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, go to Find A Surgeon, on the ASAPS home page.  Good luck.

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