Are breast implants placed beneath breast tissue of women generally for a bigger bosom, permanent?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that breast implants should be replaced with new ones every eight to 10 years as they are not permanent devices. However, a considerable number of Korean plastic surgeons say they don’t have to be replaced if problems are not found.

There are also lots of positive and negative postings online on implants and there are few research findings about the surgery. As a result, it is hard for women hoping to receive or having already got implant surgery to confirm which are correct.

Nevertheless, the FDA’s contention sounds more reasonable when aging is considered, a breast implant surgeon said.

“A 35-year-old woman would see breast fat reduced and her skin less elastic due to aging 10 years after her implant surgery,” said Kang Tae-jo, a director of Yujin Plastic Surgery in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. “She has to have the silicone gel downsized to match her age as the existing one may be a burden on shoulders and backbone as well as on ribs.”

Both the FDA and Kang advise the woman to receive MRI checks on their breasts every two or three years after implant surgery.

Meanwhile, there were 428 cases of side effects from breast implants, the largest portion or 59.7 percent of the total 717 adverse effects from medical devices announced by the Korea Food and Drug Administration in March. Among the side effects, rupture was top with 199 cases, followed by a round-shaping-related one with 115 cases and leak of saline solution, gel or other implant material with 90 cases.