Question:

I had silicone breast implants done in the '70s. They still look good but are quite firm which they always were to some extent. Are they safe to leave in?

Answer:

Silicone implants from the '70s are not made with the cohesive gel we now use. They used a more liquid form of silicone which was found to "bleed" or leak through the shell in small amounts.

The result of this is that the body would form a layer of scar around the implant known as a capsule, and with time the capsule could contract resulting in a capsular contracture. This is what causes the firmness and can distort the implant making it round and hard, and in some cases painful.

If this is happening the implants may need to be replaced, and the scar tissue excised to make the breast soft and shapely again. If this is not happening, though, the implants can be safely left indefinitely. In short, if there is not a problem then the implants are safe to leave.

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