Breast implants do not have an expiry date and there is no requirement to replace them every ten years. That figure is widely repeated and has no basis in any Australian regulatory requirement. Implants are replaced when there is a reason to replace them — not on a calendar.
What is true is that implants are not permanent devices either. The longer they are in, the more likely it is that something will eventually prompt surgery.
The reasons implants actually get replaced
| Reason | What prompts it |
|---|---|
| Capsular contracture | The breast becomes firm, high or painful. The commonest reason for revision |
| Rupture | Failure of the shell, which with cohesive silicone may cause no symptoms |
| Malposition | The implant has moved low, high or laterally, or the sides no longer match |
| Change in the breast around it | Age, weight change or pregnancy alter the breast; the implant no longer suits it |
| A change of mind about size | Wanting smaller is at least as common as wanting larger |
| Wanting them out altogether | A legitimate choice — see explant surgery |
So how long do they last?
There is no single number, and any surgeon quoting one precisely is guessing. What can be said honestly: a meaningful proportion of women with implants will have further breast surgery at some point in their lives, and the likelihood rises with time since the original operation. Plan for the possibility rather than being surprised by it.
Australia is better placed than most countries to answer this over time, because device details are recorded in the Australian Breast Device Registry unless you opt out.
What follow-up should look like
- Keep your implant cards. They record the manufacturer, type and serial numbers. You will need them if anything is ever done.
- Know what to look for. A breast becoming firm, changing shape, swelling suddenly or becoming painful is a reason to be seen.
- Continue routine breast screening as recommended for your age, telling the radiographer you have implants.
- Be reviewed if something changes, rather than on a fixed schedule in the absence of symptoms.
Dr Kumar reviews his own surgical patients for twelve months after surgery. Beyond that, the trigger for review is a change rather than an anniversary.
Imaging for silent rupture
A cohesive silicone implant can fail without any outward sign. Where rupture is suspected, ultrasound or MRI is used to assess it. Whether asymptomatic women should be scanned at intervals is not settled in Australian practice, and it is a reasonable thing to discuss rather than assume. Signs of a ruptured implant.
What replacement involves
Replacement is a bigger operation than the first augmentation, not a smaller one. The old implant is removed, the capsule dealt with according to what is found, and a new implant placed — sometimes in a different plane. Where the breast has changed substantially, a lift may be needed at the same time to get a reasonable result. See implant replacement.
Cost and Medicare
Replacement for cosmetic reasons attracts no rebate. Where there is a clinical indication, item 45551 — removal with excision of at least half the capsule, not with insertion of any prosthesis — applies to capsular contracture, a mass within the capsule, or evidence of BIA-ALCL or other malignancy, with the capsule sent for histopathology. Item 45548 covers removal as an independent procedure. and cover the surgeon’s fee only. More about costs.
Common questions
Where does the ten-year figure come from? It reflects older manufacturer warranty periods and early device data, not a rule.
If one fails, do both come out? Usually both are addressed, since they are the same age and matching matters.
Can I just have them removed and not replaced? Yes. Explant surgery.
Will my health fund cover it? Funds contribute to hospital costs where there is a recognised clinical indication and your cover and waiting periods allow. The hospital checks this and quotes accordingly.
I have had implants twenty years and feel fine. Then there is no automatic reason to operate. Know what to look for and be seen if something changes.
Next step
If something about your implants has changed, or you simply want them assessed, bring a GP referral — it is required to see Dr Kumar — and your implant cards. Call 1300 267 726. More about implant removal and revision.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
