Implants are not lifetime devices; therefore it is likely that they may need to be replaced sometime in your life. The time period varies from woman to woman. Some women need replacement surgery in only a few years while others may go 10-20 years. The accepted medical advice is that they last 10-12 years and patients should have an MRI scan after 3 years and then 2 yearly after that to monitor their implants.

Your doctor will be your best guide regarding how long you will need to remain off work and will advise you when and how to resume activities. Recovery periods vary from woman to woman. Generally the first few days are the most uncomfortable.

The average time to return to full activities is four to six weeks. It is important not to perspire into the incision whilst it is healing. You should try to avoid sun tanning until after the incision is completely healed. It's important not to engage in too much strenuous activity, especially of the upper body, too soon following your surgery.

During your early recovery (one to two weeks) after the operation, try to avoid baths/swimming or generally soaking yourself in water. Be sure you check with your doctor before returning to more vigorous and regular exercise. Individual patients recovery times can vary a great deal, so try not to compare yourself to someone else. If you have concerns, consult your doctor.

Walking is generally recommended to encourage circulation. The larger the implant you receive the heavier the breasts will be, so we recommend you always wear good, supportive bras while running to minimise pull on the skin and avoid ptosis (drooping) of the breast.

Tanning at salons or sunbathing will not harm or damage the implant but may negatively impact the appearance of scars. You should avoid getting sun or tanning rays on the incisions for at least one year after surgery as tanning rays will turn the incisions dark permanently. When subjected to heat your implants may feel warm and may take longer to cool down than your body.

Most doctors ask that you wait 3 months before wearing under- wired bras after implant surgery. Your body will be forming scar tissue around the implant for 3 months. During this time the pressure of the wires could cause the scar tissue to form in such a way that an indentation from the wires could become permanent. After this initial healing time, under wired bras should be worn intermittently to avoid permanent indentation.

This depends upon multiple factors such as the type of implant you receive, the pocket dissection, the way your body holds the implant and whether or not there is any degree of capsular contracture.

It is possible for many women to have breast implants that are soft and move nicely, while other women have results that are firmer with an implant more fixed in position.

Insertion of implants can cause stretch marks but rarely does. If you are concerned, go for a smaller size implant to minimise the stretching of the skin, or choose an adjustable implant to slowly stretch the skin over time.

Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, reducing the blood supply and the oxygen carried by the blood to the surgical area. The tissues need this blood supply and the oxygen that the blood carries in order to heal. When the blood supply is reduced the tissues heal more slowly. Different doctors have different time frames for patients to refrain from smoking before and after surgery. We hear anything from five weeks prior and after, to one to two weeks prior and after. Ask your doctor how long he/she would like you to stop smoking before and after your surgery.

There can be changes in nipple sensitivity after implant surgery, this can increase or decrease. The range of change varies from no feeling to intense feeling and can be temporary or permanent.

You should be close to your ideal weight. A significant loss of weight after receiving breast implants could alter the results in a manner that is not satisfactory to you. There could be some ptosis (drooping) and a reduction in size. A significant gain in weight could cause an increase in breast size.

No, we are unable to offer any surgery while you are pregnant or breast feeding. However, please contact us 6 months after giving birth or after breast feeding and talk to our friendly advisors to discuss next steps.

Learn more about Breast implants and pregnancy.

• A rupture is where the implant can split; whilst this is rare it can happen so just to make you aware. Ruptured implants are a common cause of late-onset capsular contraction
• Capsular contracture is where the body builds up too much scar tissue around the implant; this happens in a small number of patients.

If either of these occur, it is more likely to be within the first 3 years; that is why we cover you completely free of charge to have the implants removed and replaced for 3 years from the date of your surgery.

Mentor Memory Gel implants has one of the best warrantees on the market "You can’t put a price on peace of mind. So neither have we".

Limited Warranty Plan for Mentor® and PERT HESE™ Silicone Gel-filled Breast Implants*

• Free automatic enrolment
• Lifetime product replacement in case of confirmed rupture
• In the case of confirmed rupture, up to €1000 of financial assistance, for a period of 10 years from the date of its implantation
• Free product replacement in the case of confirmed capsular contracture Baker grade III and IV in augmentation surgery, for a period of 10 years from the date of its implantation

** For all other MENTOR® and PERTHESE™ Breast Implants,please refer to the Mentor Lifetime Product Replacement Policy

ALCL stands for Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, the full title is Breast Implant Associate Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), and is an extremely rare cancerous tumour that can potentially grow around breast implants. The occurrance of ALCL affects is estimated at 1 in 24,000 breast implants (Source: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) July 2018).

It usually appears with a sudden swelling in the breast surrounding an implant, although it can present with a mass. It usually happens many years after the implants have been placed, an average of 8 years.

Most cases are easily treated by having the implant removed, along with the capsule that surrounds it (total capsulectomy).

Simon Smith, our Medical Director, comments:

“BIA-ALCL is very rare - estimated at 1 in 24,000 breast implants, and can affect women having implants placed for cosmetic or reconstructive reasons.  It seems likely that few women are likely to change their mind about implants, but they should have full awareness of this condition before agreeing to implants, as part of their consent process.

Women who have implants already, certainly should not be alarmed, but  if they get a sudden swelling in their breasts, they should seek a  referral from their GP to their local breast unit, who will follow  guidelines set down by the ABS to ensure that there is no underlying serious cause for it. Treatment for BIA-ALCL is usually simple and successful, but it must be actively managed.”

Patient safety has been and always will be our priority which is why we recommend Mentor implants. MENTOR® Breast Implants are backed by substantial clinical data demonstrating safety and effectiveness in patients having undergone primary and revisionary augmentation and reconstruction surgeries. Mentor continues to support ongoing inquiries into the association of ALCL and breast implants.

The only difference between the round and the CPG (teardrop or anatomical) breast implant is the shape. Both implants have the same unique, patented Memory Gel (although anatomical implants are made of a firmer gel to help them keep their shape) and outer shell and both come in a variety of projections and sizes. Most importantly both implants are tested to the highest exacting standards.

A round breast implant, currently the most popular style in the UK, looks like half a sphere is no defined top or bottom. Round implants give a full look directly under the nipple area providing the classic augmented appearance.

Teardrop implants have less volume towards the top of the implant and are fuller at the bottom, more closely resembling the look of a natural breast. Teardrop implants do have a slightly longer recovery time, but can produce a more natural result in some patients, which is becoming increasingly popular.

The Contour Profile Gel (CPG) breast implant, also known as an anatomical implant, is the teardrop shaped implant that is designed to follow the curves of your body. The implant has less volume towards the top and are fuller at the bottom, result is a more natural looking fuller breast. This style of implant is the most requested across the world, particularly in Europe and America, and is growing in popularity in the UK where the trend for more discreet implants is growing.

Breast Implants generally last for around 10-12 years.

Implants are not lifetime devices; therefore it is likely that they may need to be replaced sometime in your life. The time period varies from woman to woman. Some women need replacement surgery in only a few years while others may go 10-20 years. The accepted medical advice is that they last 10-12 years and patients should have an MRI scan after 3 years and then 2 yearly after that to monitor their implants.

The Keller Funnel™ is an FDA* approved medical device that allows the surgeon to position the breast implant with minimal contact to the implant itself. This means that the implant never meets your skin during surgery ensuring it remains perfectly sterile. The funnel also allows the surgeon to make a smaller incision, which  means that recovery time after surgery should lessen as the procedure is less impactful on the body.

In most cases our surgeons will use the Keller Funnel in their breast procedures, and at no additional cost to our patients.

*Food & Drug Administration, US

• Source 9: FDA Approval Letter, Source 36: CE Marking - Mentor First PRESS Release 1995
• Source 17: MG 8-year Core Study and warranty part from www.loveyourlook.co.uk