Over 40 years of expert care
Best UK Group & 5 star reviews
Established Clinics
Over 40 years of expert care
Best UK Group & 5 star reviews
Clinics
How long will my breast implants last and when should I replace them?
“What’s the lifespan of my breast implants and should I replace them?”. As a leading provider of breast surgery for over 40 years, this is a question patients frequently ask of our Consultant Breast Surgeons.
The average lifespan of a breast implant is around 10 – 15 years. This is why our surgeons recommend you consider removing or replacing your implants around this time frame. It is never intended for breast implants to last a lifetime.
Today’s breast implants, however, tend to last for longer than 10 years. The majority of people with breast implants do not find they run into issues as they age with their implants, and many have their breast implants for decades without any issues.
But overall, the older your implants are – the more at risk you are of such as implant rupture.
Breast implants do not need to be replaced after 10 years if everything else is fine and you are still happy with them. We do suggest that you have a follow-up appointment with your surgeon to discuss your implants – they may refer you to your local breast clinic for an MRI or Ultrasound scan which can check the quality of your implants.
Breast implants that are 20 years old are most likely nearing the end of their best life. There is no requirement to remove them as a result of this. If you are not noticing any changes to your breast then you may be fine to continue with them. What we do advise, however, is that after 20 years you should have an MRI scan. An MRI scan will be able to determine if your is intact and in the correct position still.
If it has been 20 years and you are noticing some then it is best to return to your surgeon to seek breast implant removal or replacement.
If you have had breast implants for 30 years and are not experiencing any issues, then they have lasted very well. We would recommend seeing either your surgeon or a plastic surgeon who specialises in breast surgery to discuss the pros and cons of keeping the .
At this stage, we usually recommend removing or replacing older implants as they are at a more increased risk of experiencing complications
The longer you have your breast implants in, you are more at risk of developing complications. This is why the overall recommendation is to have breast implants removed or replaced after years.
These figures are based on a FDA report from 2011. The results of the report found that 20% of patients with implants required additional or implant replacement surgery after 10 years. 80% of patients however did not need any additional surgery after 10 years.
In most cases, we will recommend that all patients who have had their implants for a number of years should have a scan to check their implants.
There are two types of scan we recommend having to check the integrity of your breast implants and these include an MRI scan or an Ultrasound scan.
An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is the best type of scan you can get for your breast implants. It has the highest sensitivity and specificity to detect complications such as rupture [3]. The scan involves laying on a flatbed which is then moved inside the circular scanner which is controlled via a computer in a separate room.
An ultrasound (USS) scan can also be used to detect any issues with breast implants. The scan is carried out by gel to the area being scanned and then a handheld probe is placed on the area.
To book an MRI or Ultrasound scan to check on your implants, you can either go to your surgeon or GP. They will both be able to refer you to a local breast clinic to book an appointment for this scan. Another other option is to seek an MRI or Ultrasound scan privately which will normally cost on average £350.
A mammogram scan looks at the density of the breast tissue and is predominantly used for looking at lumps in the breast. It is not for looking at the integrity of breast implants.
A mammogram scan can be performed on someone with implants however, you will just need to let the person performing the scan know so they can adjust the way that they do the mammogram.
At The Private Clinic, we have a variety of breast implant removal options to suit all patients.
All breast implants have a free lifetime warranty with the manufacturer. However, lifetime is often concerning the recommended lifetime of a breast implant which is 10 years. The terms and conditions of these warranties will provide you with more information on what is covered and how long for.
Whist silicone breast implants tend to be more resilient than saline breast implants, www.peptides-eu.com) the overall suggested lifetime for both implants is years.
In the UK, you are more likely to have a Breast Enlargement with a silicone implant.
At The Private Clinic, our surgeons only offer silicone breast implants.
Breast implants on average last years. After this time, you should consider getting them removed or replaced. If you are experiencing no issues with your implants after 10+ years, it is still best to seek advice from your plastic surgeon and have an MRI scan.
It is our excellent reputation for patient care and patient safety that makes The Private Clinic a leader in the cosmetic industry.
From the first consultation through to your first-class aftercare. We have some of the most experienced and well-respected consultant plastic surgeons in the industry as part of our breast implant removal team including:
- , MD&Surg (Hons), FRCS (Eng), Chir Plast (Hons), MicroSurg (Hons), ORL (H&N) GMC Number:
- , MBBS, MD & Surg (Hons), FRCS (Eng). GMC Number:
- , MA(Cantab), MB BChir, MSEd, FRCS. GMC Number :
- , MD. GMC Number:
- , MD, MPhil, MBChB, MRCS, MFFLM, FRCS (Plast). GMC Number:
- , MBChb, MRCS (Glas), FRCS (Plast), GMC Number:
- , BSC (Hons), MBCHB, MRCS, PGCERTMEDED, FRCS(Plast). GMC Number:
- , MD. GMC Number:
- , MBBS, MS (Gen surgery), MRCS, MCh (Plastic surgery), FRCS (Plastic surgery), GMC Number:
To find out more please call or use our  to request a consultation with one of our expert breast surgeons.
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About The Clinic
The Private Clinic is a multi award winning medical group with located across the UK. We have over 40 years’ experience in offering the best in advanced minimally invasive non surgical treatments and expert led surgical procedures in our clinics and hospitals. Our surgeons are all registered with the and we are regulated by the . The CQC is an independent regulator for health and social care in England. Last review March 10th 2023.
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Company reg: The Private Clinic is a trading name of TPC Group Limited ( number ) © 2026 The Private Clinic.
TPC Group Limited trading as The Clinic Harley Street London, which is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited. TPC Group Limited is a credit broker, not a lender. Chrysalis Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Conduct Authority for credit broking and lending.