Australia is well known for its abundance of life-threatening flora and fauna.
Even so, Team Costhetics was quite surprised to read the ABC News headline:
Kangaroo ruptures woman’s breast implants
It turns out that two women cycling in the Clare Valley were literally jumped by a kangaroo. The animal leapt down from an embankment and attacked them both, leading to cracked ribs, grazes and ruptured breast implants.
Are breast implants that fragile? (No.) Was the kangaroo that ferocious? (Yes.) Team Costhetics did some research so you could have the answers.
How Durable Are Breast Implants
One concern women have regarding all types of breast augmentation is the durability of the implants. This is understandable, as removing/replacing requires surgery and costs including the surgeon’s fee, a facility fee, an anaesthesia fee, and more. It also requires an investment of time for healing.
Currently, women have two choices when it comes to breast implant material:
- Silicone implants – silicone shells filled with a plastic gel
- Saline implants – silicone shells filled with saline (sterile salt water)
The gel in silicone breast implants makes them feel more like natural breast tissue. Saline breast implants provide a uniform shape and firmness. Both have their proponents, as different implants are appropriate to different patients’ needs.
Breast implants are not intended to last forever. Regardless of the material used, patients will need to have their devices removed in anywhere from two years (in the event that scar tissue has built up and deformed the breast) to 25 years.
In general, though, most breast implants last about ten years before needing a tune-up.
What is a Silent Rupture in Breast Implants
When a silicone breast implant ruptures, it may go unnoticed because the leaking silicone tends to stay trapped in the fibrous tissue that forms around the implant. It’s only when breast pain or changes in the contour/shape of the breast occur that the rupture is discovered.
If a saline breast implant ruptures, the implant deflates. The result is a change to the size and shape of the breast. Over time, the leaking saline solution is absorbed by the body. This does not pose any health risks. Surgery is necessary to remove the silicone shell, however. At that time, a new implant can likely be inserted into the existing pocket.
6 Important Factors that Affect Breast Implant Longevity
Many factors can influence how long an implant will last. Some have to do with your surgeon:
- Surgical Skill – your surgeon’s skill and experience are key. A badly executed insertion of the implant can weaken its shell and put it at risk for early failure.
- Location of the Incision – this is also directly related to the experience of your surgeon. A trans-umbilical incision is traumatic and can affect the durability of the implant. Additionally, large silicone implants inserted through limited-size armpit incisions can also be detrimental to the implant.
Some factors have to do with the device you choose.
- Implant Size – larger implants may not last as long.
- Smooth vs. Textured Implants – textured saline implants are known to have a noticeably shorter life span than smooth ones.
Still others are associated with lifestyle:
- Frequent Mammograms – women who undergo frequent mammograms, particularly aggressively compressing ones, are at greater risk for weakening the implant envelope.
- Follow-up Visits with Your Surgeon – monitoring your breast implants will alert you to problems before they occur.
Costhetics knows that breast augmentation is a very rewarding procedure for millions of women around the world. In fact, this procedure is associated with an extremely high satisfaction rate among patients. Still, it’s important to remember that breast implants won’t last forever, even if you don’t go head to head with a kangaroo.