Silicone myths. Replacement of breast implants: reasons, timing, technique, guarantees, price Do breast implants need to be changed

16.06.2020

Replacement of breast implants is not necessary if the woman is satisfied with the aesthetic appearance of the breast and mammography does not reveal any abnormalities. Replacement of implants is carried out for medical reasons as a result of complications after the primary surgery, as well as because of dissatisfaction with the appearance of the silicone breast. What are the advantages and disadvantages of re-endoprosthetics of the mammary glands, the existing technologies for replacing breast implants, and the features of replacement, as well as what is the cost of this procedure, you will learn about this today from our article.

Reasons for replacing implants

Aesthetic reasons:

Asymmetry of the breast, incorrectly selected implants in primary plastic;
Wrinkling, bulging, the appearance of folds under the breasts, the effect of "double breasts";
Dissatisfaction with the appearance of the breasts as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding, sharp weight loss or ptosis due to age-related changes in the body;
Dissatisfaction with breast size, desire to increase by 1-2 sizes.

Medical reasons:

Constrictive fibrosis (capsular contracture). The implant becomes overgrown with scar tissue, as a result of which the breast becomes denser, pain appears when pressed;
Endoprosthesis rupture, gel (saline) leakage. As a result, swelling and inflammation of the mammary glands develops, pain;
Poorly manufactured endoprostheses. Asymmetry develops, the integrity of the shell is violated;
Malformed pocket. When the implant is located under the soft tissues of the mammary glands, the likelihood of developing capsular contracture increases than when located behind the pectoralis major muscle;
Sagging breasts;
The development of synmastia. As a result of installation of implants with a wide base for thin women with thin skin, the intercostal space gradually disappears, and breasts grow together;
Development inflammatory processes, bleeding, staphylococcus infections, hematoma formation.

Advantages and disadvantages of breast re-endoprosthetics

Replacing breast implants has the following benefits:

Aesthetic appearance of the breast;
Correction of asymmetry arising over time;
Increase or decrease in the size of the breasts.

The disadvantages of repeated mammoplasty include the gradual prolapse of the mammary glands. Ptosis develops under the influence of the gravity of the silicone implants. It is also affected by skin aging, loss of its elasticity and firmness.

Breast implant replacement technology

Re-endoprosthetics surgery is performed in several stages:

Removal of existing implants. Removal takes place by an incision along a previously made incision;
Removing the capsule that has formed around each implant. The contracted capsule is removed completely when the surrounding tissue is roughly scarred. If there are no complications, it is partially removed;
Prosthetics of new implants. New breast implants are placed in the existing pocket;
Stitching.

Surgery takes an average of 120 minutes under general anesthesia. If it is necessary to correct asymmetry, increase the size of the breast, etc., then the operation takes longer.

Rehabilitation period lasts longer than with primary plastic, about 3-4 months. For faster healing of implants, it is necessary to wear supportive underwear with fixation.

Features of replacing implants

The operation will differ from the original plastic depending on the reason for the replacement.

Features of replacing implants due to changes in the size of the mammary glands:

First, the doctor expands (shrinks) the pocket after removing the old implants. When reducing breast size, it is imperative to tighten the skin. Secondly, in order to enlarge the mammary glands by four sizes or more, it is necessary to perform re-endoprosthetics in two stages - to increase the size of the implants by no more than two sizes in one operation. Thus, the chest will not be deformed, there will be no stretch marks skin, and the load on the spine will not be too sharp.

Features of replacing implants due to their shrinkage:

In this case, only implants with a gel structure and textured surface are installed, since a smooth surface does not guarantee re-wrinkling. Implants are not installed under soft tissue mammary glands, and under a large muscle.

Features of replacing implants due to asymmetry (displacement):

One of the prostheses is displaced as a result of excessive growth of fibrous tissue. In this case, after replacement, a breast lift is required.

To prevent the implant from displacing again, a dermal matrix is \u200b\u200binserted to support it. It is composed of a collagen and elastin complex.

Features of replacing implants due to synmastia:

After removing the implants, the doctor works to reduce the pockets. In complicated cases, the mesh is sutured and sutures are applied inside the pocket to prevent rupture of the inner part of the interthoracic space. Only after these manipulations are new implants of a smaller size (smaller width and projection) installed so that they do not touch the internal sutures.
In this case, the rehabilitation process lasts at least 6 months.

The cost

The cost of replacing breast implants consists of two components: the cost of removing old implants and the cost of installing new ones. In addition, you need to know whether one or both endoprostheses will be replaced, whether it is necessary to carry out work to remove complications, whether it is necessary to lift the mammary glands, etc.

The average cost is summed up as follows:

The average price of implants is from 40 to 70 thousand rubles;
The average price for work on removing old implants is 90 thousand rubles;
The average price for work to remove complications is 57 thousand rubles;
The average price for a breast lift is 120 thousand rubles;
The average price for re-endoprosthetics is 140 thousand rubles.

Let's be honest. They cannot stay in the body forever. Sooner or later, they burst. This article will focus on silicone implants and the dangers that women around the world are exposed to. Statistics on this score are very eloquent and scary: 50% of implants rupture within 10 years after surgery. Women who wear silicone in their breasts for 15 to 20 years increase the risk of rupture by up to 90%.

What are doctors afraid of?

Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ed Melmed says filler leaks cannot be controlled. Physicians cannot know how the material will behave in the body and where it will spread.

Statistics on the number of transactions

Every year in the United States alone, about 300,000 women and girls get breast implants. When you take into account similar operations around the world, the numbers are even more impressive. It is believed that every year from 5 to 10 million beauties resort to this method of body shaping.

Basically, women are not informed about the danger before the operation. At a plastic surgeon's appointment, they will never be told about a potential health hazard. On the contrary, most doctors in clinics tell patients that this procedure is safe, and if it carries health risks, they are minimal. Therefore, women so easily fall under the knife, because they, in fact, are not aware of anything. However, this is not the case when it is worth keeping silent about the consequences.

Evidence Gathered from True Stories

If you want to know what the real danger posed by breast augmentation surgery is, ask the affected women. There are thousands of real and terrifying stories around the world that have led to debilitating autoimmune disorders and other physical problems. Please take the information below into consideration. If you, your girlfriends or relatives are considering breast augmentation surgery, just share this information with them. Your life, as well as the life of your friends, may depend entirely on this knowledge.

Clients provide clinic staff plastic surgery comfortable old age. Most often, women about 30 years old apply for breast correction. Many of the patients have already managed to give birth to children, and their mammary glands, after pregnancy and breastfeeding, have lost their former shape and elasticity. Another part of women have complexes about small size... Breast implants seem to be the only salvation.

The first danger at a plastic surgeon's appointment is finding a cheaper alternative. It's no secret that high-quality material is expensive, and many private clinics are fighting for potential clients. That is why advice is emerging about alternative, more affordable options. No doctor will say that there are no permanent implants on the market today. Any option on the market is prone to filler leakage. Some of them include brine valves, which after some time of "operation" can turn black and moldy. Ultimately, a woman's body is doomed to put up with systemic fungal problems.

Beauties are confident that large breasts provide many advantages in the battle for a potential partner, for family happiness and well-being. They go to the clinic and hope that their dreams will come true. No plastic surgeon will debunk these expectations. He will not talk about severe autoimmune disorders that lead to a wheelchair, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other ailments.

The international organization FDA now openly mentions the problems associated with breast implants... This service has existed on the international plastic surgery market for over 40 years. And all this time, the FDA has not formally granted its approval.

Loudest scandal

At the end of the 90s, perhaps the loudest scandal associated with this area thundered all over the world. The media reported extensive coverage of the lawsuit involving 450,000 women in the United States of America. This famous case was brought against Dow Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of silicone implants.

The firm never acknowledged that its products were hazardous to health. However, the court ordered to pay huge monetary compensation to the victims. It is known that in the 70s of the last century, Dow Corning implants had a very thin outer shell and a high probability of material leakage. Some women dream of possessing beautiful breasts paid with their own lives, while awaiting the verdict of the court.

In the case against the monopoly company, some more gruesome details emerged. It turns out that Dow Corning employees knew that their products were toxic, but they hid this information from the public for as long as they could. Such a scandal is far from an isolated case. In recent lawsuits, one can recall the infamous case against the French manufacturer PIP, whose implants contained toxic chemical substancesprohibited for human use.

Experiments on animals

Scientists are eager to shed light on the behavior of leaked silicone in the body and are doing experiments on animals. So, in 80% of rats, into the body of which silicone was injected, tumors were subsequently found. These numbers were so startling that the international organization FDA was quick to call them wrong.

Silicone implants are back on the market

Some time ago, silicone was no longer used as a filler for breast implants. And now he is conquering the international market again. Several manufacturing companies, which have been sued for a total of $ 3.7 billion, have turned back into business as usual. Moreover, no long-term studies on their products have been produced. It should be noted that the safety data of Dow Corning, Baxter Healthcare Corporation and Bristol-Myers Scribb are not confirmed. This means that women again have no guarantees.

Now I would like to pay your attention, dear readers, to a very important question that 90% of my patients ask me during breast augmentation consultations: "Will it be necessary to change implants over time?"

In fact, the question is quite clear: patients "invest" in themselves, in their appearance, and the duration of such investments is especially important. Accordingly, moving on to the topic, here's what you should definitely know:

Aging of implants:

Implants produced 10-20 years ago, according to manufacturers, had a wear rate of up to 5-7% per year, and if at the initial stage this is very little, then over time the risk of their destruction or rupture increased significantly. Modern implants, which I and my fellow surgeons now use in our practice, have a significantly lower percentage of wear, which allowed the implant manufacturers of the world's leading companies to give them a lifetime warranty.

But, despite the practical non-wear and tear of modern implants, there is statistics that some patients who have undergone breast augmentation, after a while turn to the surgeon again with a request to replace the implant. But what are the reasons for this? Now I will describe some facts:

Sometimes patients ask for an implant replacement solely for aesthetic reasons, as they want to change their size or shape. If this is not the first months after the operation, when the swelling has not subsided or the implants have not yet gone down, have not "fallen into place", then an experienced surgeon, of course, will immediately refuse the operation, since the breast has not yet taken its final shape and what - or conclusions very early (rehabilitation after breast augmentation). Also, do not forget about age-related changes ... This factor makes women think about reimplantation. These changes occur due to age factors, breastfeeding, excess weight gain, or vice versa, weight loss. As a result, of course, the volume of the soft tissues of the breast changes, and the skin loses its elasticity, the ligaments weaken and stretch. All this leads to sagging breasts. All these are natural processes and they do not depend on whether the implant is installed or not. But, if the implant was placed under the gland, and not under the muscle, and it is large, its weight can accelerate unwanted breast changes.

An implant placed under the pectoral muscle, on the contrary, is a kind of support that supports the breast tissue and contributes to their less stretching. But he, of course, is not salvation from natural age-related changes (see endoscopic breast augmentation).

I understand perfectly well that it is not very pleasant to know that in the future, you may have to do breast reoperation. Some patients have initially rather weak or prone to loss of elasticity of the tissue and, most likely, the problem of replacing the implant will not bypass them. During the consultation, I always focus on these facts so that the patients can weigh the pros and cons.

And finally, in order to reassure the beautiful ladies who have read this article, I want to assure you that most of the patients are absolutely satisfied with the result of the operation and do not regret a single bit about the procedure.

In order not to worry about this issue, together with the surgeon, you must make the right decision about the size of the implant and the method of its placement. Only by choosing a competent approach can you get a wonderful and long-lasting result. With all my patients, even at the first consultation, I fully raise this topic so that even at the stage of communication we can come to the right decision. Do not be afraid to be beautiful and luxurious, because this feeling helps us to move forward with our goal, and this is important!

Many women who have gone through the procedure for breast correction by means of implantation or are only planning to change their appearance surgical intervention, ask themselves the question: "Do breast implants need to be changed?" Only the plastic surgeon performing the operation can unequivocally answer, since there are several factors that determine whether there is a need for replacement.

Breast prostheses

Breast implants have been in fashion for a long time and are by far the most popular operation. aesthetic medicine... Surgery to insert breast implants to enlarge it and give it a more beautiful shape is especially popular among women, with oncological disease mammary glands. Also, implantation is carried out for women with first or zero breast size to increase it.

However, despite the many who want to go through this procedure, there are also those who are categorically against these manipulations. They motivate this by the fact that a foreign object should not be introduced into a living organism, as this can cause a number of complications and unpleasant sensations.

Doubting women are especially frightened by various articles that colorfully describe the terrible consequences that happen to the breast after the implant is introduced to increase it. Of course, any surgery has its own risks, and this procedure is no exception. However, in our time, the risk is reduced to a minimum, therefore, cases of negative consequences are rare. Most the right way completely protect yourself - choose a quality prosthesis.

Choosing a quality implant

Do not neglect the assessments of other women who have already undergone this procedure and the recommendations of surgeons. It is better to make your choice in favor of one of the popular manufacturers. Such implants must have a special elastic bag with a thin but strong silicone shell.

They are of several types, here it is necessary to decide on the surface of the prosthesis: smooth or voluminous. Any organism rejects a foreign object that has fallen into it, surrounding it with connective tissue. The longer an object is inside the body, the more tissue forms around it, which gives the breast an unnatural firmness. This is the first problem faced by plastic surgeons during surgery. Complications in this matter are caused by implants with a smooth surface of the shell. The volumetric surface has a certain roughness, which contributes to the ingrowth of living tissues into the shell of the prosthesis. This is what makes them safer.

What dentures are made of:

More similar in consistency vegetable oil silicone gel.
Cohesive gel weakly holds its shape, but almost does not sweat and is almost indistinguishable from mammary glands in density. The consistency is similar to jelly.
The highly cohesive gel keeps its shape perfectly, practically does not deform, does not sweat, has the consistency of marmalade. Used as a filler for anatomical prostheses.
"Soft touch" -gel keeps its shape well, does not sweat. The consistency resembles jellied meat.
Saline solution. Not the best filler, since almost a year after application, the salt dissolved in the composition crystallizes and there is a risk of puncture of the prosthesis shell.
Soybean oil. It is strongly discouraged to use implants with this filler, as they are considered one of the worst.

According to their characteristics, prostheses are divided into several types:

Silicone.
Saline.
Round-shaped;
Anatomical.

Silicone or saline

Silicone implants have good adhesion and stable shape, which contributes to less sweating of the cohesive gel. It imitates well the natural softness of the breast; if the shell of the implant is damaged, it does not seep out, keeps its shape well, and does not sweat under the shell.

Implants consisting of saline, these are bags with silicone polymers characteristic of their elasticity. Serve exclusively for breast augmentation. Not the best choice, because given view The implants feel different from the natural breast, they are likely to wrinkle or rupture.

Round or anatomical

It is necessary to choose the shape of the prosthesis, as well as the prosthesis itself, in consultation with the leading surgeon in order to choose the exact implant that is suitable for a particular patient. Choosing an implant on your own is fraught with unforeseen consequences or the surgeon's refusal to perform the operation.

Round shaped implants are aesthetically pleasing. They look beautiful, emphasize feminine forms better, but they do not always correspond to some of the mandatory points that natural breasts have:

The chest should be larger in height, not in width.
The oval at the lower pole of the chest is well filled.
The nipple should be slightly above the chaotic fold of the breast.
The upper chest should have an almost flat bevel.

Anatomical implants are used most often, as they correspond to all of the above points, so they are becoming more popular than round ones.

Types of implantation

As a rule, nowadays there are two widespread methods of implantation of implants:

Armpit placement;
Under the breast line.

Any method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The first method is good in that it reduces the risk of the formation of a capsule consisting of smooth fibrous tissue, which can deform the breast and compress the prosthesis if it increases more than the allowable norm. It is also almost impossible to feel the prosthesis. However, this operation is much more difficult, and the recovery period lasts longer, at times with a feeling of discomfort. In addition, in case a second operation is necessary, it will be rather difficult to get to the implant.

Plastic surgeons prefer the second placement option. If re-enlargement is required, there will be no problem to get to the desired area through the same incision. This operation is relatively short-lived, it is easier, practically without pain during rehabilitation postoperative period... This method is practiced only if the gland tissue is well developed. Significant disadvantages are the risk of a capsule deforming the prosthesis and breast, and the fact that most often the prosthesis can be found by palpating the breast.

In some cases, it is possible to insert implants in two ways simultaneously.

Section views

Another important point before the operation is a thorough study of the types of incisions through which the prosthesis of the glands will be installed.

There are four main types of incisions:

An incision in the armpit;
Areola incision;
An incision under the retromammary fold of the breast;
Belly button incision.

The incision in the armpit is universal, as it allows you to implant a prosthesis above and below the pectoral muscle. This is not the most widely used incision, despite the fact that the scar is located in the armpit and is less visible to others. However, this is a rather complicated operation, with the longest recovery period, and therefore is considered traumatic for the patient. It will be very difficult, if necessary, to re-operate through this type of incision, if it is necessary to change it.

The next type of incision should be especially carefully reviewed with the lead physician. The areola incision is distinguished by its versatile advantages. This method provides the opportunity to place a prosthesis under the muscle and under the gland or remove the prosthesis. In terms of aesthetic characteristics, it is better than an axillary incision, since the scar is practically invisible. Otherwise, it is possible to carry out the procedure for tattooing the areola under its natural color in order to make the scar invisible. The incision is made at the border of the areola and breast skin.

The third type of incision is used most often. This type, like the previous one, allows you to remove the glandular implant and get rid of the unpleasant consequences of the rehabilitation postoperative period. Instead of one scar, there may be an increase in the number to two, but there will be no complications. The disadvantage is not so significant compared to the advantages - the scars are noticeable, despite their thinness.

The last section is the newest. It does not leave scars on the chest, but only allows the placement of an implant with saline solution.

Contraindications to surgery

Contraindications for this type of surgical intervention are the following diseases:

Heart disease.
Heart failure.
Respiratory failure.
Coronary heart disease.
Circulatory disorders.
Bronchial asthma.
Diabetes.
Oncology.
Hepatitis C.
Mental disorder.
We have been smoking tobacco for over twenty years.

Is there a need to change implants

If you look back a decade, the answer would be obvious. Due to the slow-moving technological progress at that time, implants were not durable and wore out in ten to fifteen years. Therefore, after the expiration date of the prostheses, they had to be replaced with more "fresh" ones. Prostheses from the richest breast implant companies provide a lifetime warranty, which means that they do not require replacement.

You don't need to change breast implants, but you can. Over time, the body ages and fades, the skin becomes flabby and saggy, and the breast, which has undergone correction by plastic surgeons, in this respect does not differ much from natural. The enlargement of the mammary glands can bring some discomfort in the area of \u200b\u200bthe implantation; capsular contracture may form; there may be a desire to change the volume to more or less depending on the dictatorship of an ever-changing fashion. All these factors can make a woman go under the knife of a plastic surgeon again in order to become more perfect and avoid the consequences. age change mammary glands.

It may be necessary to reoperate when choosing low-quality implants. They can deform, burst, cause the formation of capsular contracture and its increase. All this requires a secondary intervention of specialists to remove implants and, if desired, establish new ones after a certain period of rehabilitation and in the absence of contraindications.

The best way to avoid complications during the operation and during the rehabilitation postoperative period is to follow the recommendations of your doctor, observe all the specified nuances in preparing for the operation, as well as after the operation. If a woman wants to look beautiful and at the same time stay healthy, you should not choose cheaper implants. They do not save on health, and in order to avoid the need to apply for surgical intervention again to remove the installed prosthesis, you need to opt for a possibly expensive, but better quality product.

Choosing a clinic is also important, because one of the keys to a successful operation is an experienced practicing surgeon. The World Wide Web will return millions of results in the search query " the best clinic plastic surgery ". Forums and catalogs of clinics will allow you to more accurately find out the attitude in the clinic towards patients, the qualifications of plastic surgeons, statistics of repeated visits, positive and negative reviews. In this matter, it is better to be as informed as possible.

Attention! The following video presents video clips of microsurgical operations.
Viewing these videos is strongly discouraged: persons under 16 years of age, pregnant women, as well as persons with an unbalanced psyche.

How long does a dental implant usually serve and can it really stand safely for the rest of its life, as it is sometimes said in advertisements for dental clinics;
What is the difference between the guaranteed service life of dental implants, declared by the manufacturer, from the warranty on implants, which is given by the clinic;
What is the average real life of dental implants in different price categories;
How do you know when it's time to change the implant, and what factors can contribute to the problems;
And do the prostheses installed on the implants last as long, and why sometimes they have to be changed within a couple of years after installation;
And also a few simple practical tips to extend the life of your dental implants ...

Dental implantation is a rather expensive procedure, and therefore the desire of patients to receive a lifetime or at least a long-term warranty on the installed implants is quite justified. At the same time, advertising slogans of many dental clinics, it would seem, paint quite rosy prospects and do not give reason to worry: "the service life of our implants is 30 years", "our dental implants will serve you until the end of your life!" And others in the same spirit.

But can implantologists really guarantee such a long service life of dental implants, and can it not turn out that the installed expensive design will have to be changed in a couple of years?

In order to better understand how long a tooth implant actually serves, let's first see how the warranty for dental implants given by clinics differs from the manufacturer's established service life. And then we'll also talk about whether it is realistic to achieve lifelong results from using artificial teeth.

What is the difference between the warranty for implants and their service life?

So, there are two important concepts that are closely related to the life of dental implants:

Product warranty (service life), which is established by the manufacturer of the implant;
And also the warranty period for the work performed on the treatment, established by the clinic.

Manufacturer's warranty and service life

Many companies, especially the most serious ones that have been on the market for more than a decade, give a lifetime warranty on their dental implants. These include mainly manufacturers of expensive premium products: Nobel, Alpha BIO, AstraTech, XIVE Friadent, Straumann and some others.

Firms that produce less branded products (middle price segment) give a 20-25 year warranty on their products. Actually, this is the guaranteed service life of dental implants of the middle price category, however, provided that they will be installed and then operated, as they say, in compliance with all rules and regulations.

On a note:

Implant teeth can be compared to an expensive car. For example, a German Mercedes can drive more than 500 thousand kilometers without any problems. But on condition that the owner will carry out regular maintenance of the car, change oil, candles and other spare parts. The same is with new teeth - in theory, implants will last for several decades. But in practice, much depends on how professionally the doctor worked, as well as how the patient himself will use the new teeth. An important role in this is played by daily care, regular removal of dental plaque (yes, plaque accumulates on artificial teeth), as well as undergoing preventive examinations at the dentist.

If all the conditions are met, even implants of the middle price category can reliably hold in the jaw and regularly serve much longer than the declared 25 years, and it is possible that they will never need to be changed.

Dental clinic implant warranty

The second type of guarantee is provided directly by the dental clinic (or even by a doctor, if he works individually). And usually the duration of such a guarantee is only 1-2 years. Generally speaking, the legislation of the Russian Federation does not regulate the terms of warranty obligations for dental servicesso each clinic installs them independently.

A quite reasonable question arises, why do manufacturers give an almost eternal guarantee for implants, and doctors - no more than a couple of years?

Well, this is explained quite simply: a doctor (or clinic) can only give a guarantee for the work performed. In practice, it is during the first 1-2 years that the risk is relatively high for reasons beyond the control of the patient, namely, the fault of the implantologist.

But if the implant has to be removed and replaced after 3-5-10 years, then the problem, as a rule, lies in the lack of proper care for artificial teeth or deterioration general condition the patient's health. It is quite obvious that the doctor's fault is absent here, and therefore, there is no reason for him to extend the guarantee for such a long period. That is, guaranteeing the eternal service of implants to a person who does not brush his teeth or gnaws nuts every day is more expensive for himself.

In general, we can say that when it comes to the guarantee for implantation, the patient of the dental clinic is not always in an advantageous position. According to statistics, most of the problems with implants are still due to the fault of the doctor - due to inexperience, inattention, with an incorrectly selected design or completely incorrectly performed surgical operation to install the implant. However, in practice, it is not always possible to prove that the cause of the problems that have arisen lies precisely in the error of a specialist and that during the warranty period he is obliged (and this should be spelled out in the contract) to replace the implant.

As a result, many patients who are faced with seeking support from specialists from other clinics. For example, an implant has become painful, movable, or has completely fallen out of the bone - such situations are often not regarded by clinics as guaranteed cases, blaming the patient. However, some doctors honestly admit their mistakes and successfully eliminate them - changing the implant that has not taken root or offering the patient a different type of prosthetics without re-paying for the treatment.

“I installed an expensive German implant on a six. The operation went well with almost no discomfort. I immediately asked how long this dental implant lasts and how long it lasts. The doctor said that he would definitely stand for 15-20 years. But in fact it turned out to be completely different ... A month later, severe pain, swelling and redness appeared. I came to the clinic, they said that it was a long time! They say that the rejection has begun and the reason for not establishing, most likely, is improper hygiene. The implant was removed and they flatly refused to do anything again. Then I turned to another clinic - they said that the reason was that the implant was too long and stood crooked. So much for expensive implants, but the doctor's hands don't grow from there! .. "

Irina, Moscow

So the service life of even the most expensive dental implants in problematic situations can be calculated in just a few months. Moreover, numerous reviews on the Internet indicate that such cases are not so rare. And the patient, unfortunately, has to undergo treatment again in another clinic and spend a lot of money again.

Here are some practical tips to help you reduce the risk of a clinic getting out of warranty:

choose a clinic that has been on the market for a long time, values \u200b\u200bits "name" and tries to maintain a positive reputation;
in dentistry, everything should be provided for implantation: diagnostic equipment, the presence of doctors, implant surgeons, as well as orthopedists who can make prostheses with attachment to implants;
choose an experienced doctor who has performed more than one successful operation to install implants;
study reviews not only and not so much about the clinic, but about the doctor - both on the Internet and in the book of complaints and suggestions (you can check its availability with the clinic administrator);
visit several free consultations - compare the opinions of experts regarding your situation;
strictly follow all doctor's prescriptions and do not miss preventive examinations;
do not pursue cheapness - implantation, by definition, cannot be too cheap, and a significant part of the price is made up of expensive implants.

Speaking about the service life of implants, it is worth recalling that a titanium "screw" screwed into the jawbone is only a part of the entire structure, which also includes an abutment and the actual prosthesis (for example, a crown). What is what is clearly shown in the photo below:

So, it is useful to keep in mind that the service life of prostheses can be several times less than the service life of the titanium implants themselves. We will talk about this in more detail below.

So how long does a tooth implant actually last?

In our country, dental implantation appeared no more than 20 years ago, and the stage of active development is even less. Therefore, a rare dentist can boast of at least 10 years of experience in installing dental implants. This means that it is quite problematic to find out exactly how long it will take to change implants in case of their successful engraftment and normal operation - such statistics have simply not been collected yet.

However, implantation abroad has a longer history. So, for example, in European countries, the first operations began to be carried out back in the 60s of the last century, which makes it possible to track statistics over a fairly long period of time.

It is interesting!

According to foreign practice, the highest service life is observed in premium segment implants - Astra Tech, Nobel, Straumann, XIVE, Ankylos, Bicon. On average, they keep without any problems for at least 20 years. Medium-class implants serve for about 10-15 years - for example, brands such as Implantium, BioHorizons, MIS.

But this is just an average statistics. Just as inexpensive implants can last for the rest of their lives, so the most advanced systems can become a problem within a couple of years after installation (or even earlier). Each case is individual, and the real "shelf life" of implants depends both on the patient's state of health and his responsible attitude to new teeth, and on the professionalism of the implantologist who performed the prosthetics.

Above we were talking, first of all, about classical type dental implants. The service life of the basal implants popular today (that is, they are installed not in the loose surface part of the bone, but in its denser basal layers) is generally comparable to the classical ones. Today, those models of basal implants, the installation of which was carried out through a lateral incision in the gum, are almost a thing of the past - often they were rejected after 2-3 years, unable to withstand the load from the prosthesis (see an example in the photo below).

And although in Russia basal implantation began to be practiced not so long ago, today there is every reason to believe that, provided sufficient oral hygiene, modern structures can serve a person for decades.

Even implants placed in a weakened bone, for example, with periodontitis or periodontal disease, can safely serve long years (with daily thorough oral hygiene and possibly annual drug therapy).

As for the service life of the so-called mini-implants, then, according to the manufacturers, it is similar to the service life of classic implants and is equal to an average of 20-25 years. However, it is not yet possible to trace this in practice, since mini-implants are installed for no more than 10 years. Moreover, the reviews about them differ: some experts believe that this is an excellent (and inexpensive) opportunity to fix inconvenient removable denturesalthough some doctors do not recognize these systems.

On a note

Mini-implants are not installed in the bone, but in the periosteum (the tissue between the bone and the gum), which is why bone, not receiving a sufficient chewing load, atrophies and sags. As a result, you have to constantly adjust the prosthesis. And the position of mini-implants sometimes changes due to excessive load, which can lead to their mobility, rejection and the need to remove them even a couple of years after installation.

How to know when it is time to change the implant

To understand that it is time to change a tooth implant, only a doctor can determine. It is only important to regularly visit your attending dentist (1-2 times a year) to assess the progress of the implant engraftment and examine the condition of the tissues around it.

Generally speaking, the need to change implants usually arises only when there are any serious problems and corresponding symptoms. Moreover, such problems can arise both a year after the installation of the product, and after 10, 20 and even 30 years of its active operation.

If you do not feel any pain, discomfort or other problems associated with the previously installed implant, then you do not need to change it.

Here are the typical reasons for replacing implants that are most common in practice:

trauma to the jaw or tooth, in which the mobility of the implant appeared. The structure can also push deeper into the jawbone, or, conversely, twist out;
peri-implantitis (inflammation of the tissue around the implant): usually accompanied by reddening of the gums, soreness with pressure, pus may come out and appear bad smell from the implant;
rejection of the implant - occurs as a result of peri-implantitis. A characteristic feature the problem is also the mobility of the implant.

Thus, with the appearance of mobility (even insignificant, which can sometimes be assessed only by a doctor with the help of special devices), the appearance of edema and redness of the tissues, pain in the area of \u200b\u200bthe installed dental implants, it is highly likely that the service life of the structure is coming to an end.

How long will a movable tooth implant last and after how long? If the doctor informs you that it is time to change the implant (and this is usually the case when mobility is detected), then this should be done as soon as possible. Otherwise, tissue inflammation can lead to serious complications, up to those that can threaten the patient's life.

As a result, a surgical operation is performed to remove the movable structure: the prosthesis is removed, the gum is cut and the implant is removed from the jaw. As a rule, then, after about 1-2 months, re-implantation is possible. In some cases (depending on the reason for removing the implant), the patient may be offered a different method of prosthetics.

On a note

It should be borne in mind that in the case of prosthetics on implants, problems can arise not only with the "titanium screw" implanted in the jaw, but also with the outer part of the structure - the prosthesis itself, the durability of which is often lower than that of a metal implant. About how long such prostheses on implants are changed, we'll talk further ...

Will a prosthesis last as long as an implant?

So, a metal implant implanted in the jawbone can become mobile (rejected) over time due to inflammation of the tissues around it. Now let's see how things are going with the operation of the outer part of the structure - with the prosthesis, and how soon it may need to be replaced.

First of all, it should be borne in mind that the service life of a prosthesis on implants depends largely on the material from which the crowns are made. The most short-lived dentures are considered to be metal lined with plastic (metal-plastic crowns) - plastic relatively poorly adheres to the base and often cracks and breaks off under load.

In addition, plastic is a porous material and absorbs food coloring, as well as the smallest food debris; as a result, the color of the crown changes, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The service life of such metal-plastic prostheses is no more than 2-3 years.

Cermet crowns are much stronger and more durable. They serve on average about 10-12 years. Among the main problems of these prostheses are chips of ceramic enamel and the formation of cracks on the outer coating (however, for such defects to form, the load must be very significant, much greater than in the case of metal-plastic crowns).

In addition, both in the case of metal-plastic and metal-ceramic prostheses, patients often experience allergic reactions for metal (usually for inexpensive alloys, so the problem can be partially solved by choosing precious metals, although this is a very expensive option).

The most perfect and durable dentures are those made of zirconium dioxide - this is a very durable, aesthetic and non-allergenic material. In this case, the service life is quite simple: how many years the titanium implants will stand, the zirconium dioxide prostheses will stand almost the same (the declared service life is at least 15 years).

On a note

If any prosthesis breaks, the implant does not need to be removed. The crowns are removed (in some cases - together with the abutment, especially if it is not a template, but an individual one), then the impressions are taken again and a new prosthesis is created.

What ultimately determines the service life of the tooth implant

In view of the above, the following summary can be made: a modern dental implant in many cases is able to reliably serve until the end of its life, and at least not less than the service life declared by the manufacturer. However, whether everything goes well depends on a number of conditions, the key ones of which are:

the professionalism of the implantologist and the correct installation of the implant;
the professionalism of the orthopedic surgeon who takes part in the manufacture of the prosthesis (the correct load on the implants from the side of the prosthesis, its exact fit to the gums and implants is very important);
high quality of the implant (today, by the way, there are also Chinese dental implants, the quality of which is not always predictable);
adequate hygiene of the oral cavity and care of prostheses on implants by the patient himself;
the general health of the patient.

Implantologists note that after the complete engraftment of implants and the installation of permanent prostheses, many patients, unfortunately, forget about hygiene and regular preventive examinations, believing that artificial teeth, unlike natural ones, are not attacked by bacteria - they say, they are artificial, and therefore "Inedible" for bacteria.

Yes, caries does not form on metal, plastic and ceramic crowns, but unwanted dental deposits may well form. In addition, artificial teeth are surrounded by living tissues, inflammation and damage of which, including due to plaque not removed in time, can lead to a reduction in the life of the implant and the need to remove it together with the crown.

So, as you can see, how long the dental implants will last depends largely on the patient himself.

On a note:

Implantation is a rather expensive procedure, and not every patient can afford to renew the installed implants every 5 years. Therefore, money in this situation is a good motivator for taking care of your teeth. For example, many patients after implantation quit smoking altogether, since this bad habit generally increases the risk of implant rejection.

Here are a few useful tipsadhering to which, you can significantly increase the chances that a tooth implant will have a maximum service life - until the end of a person's life, or at least 10-20 years:

regular enhanced oral hygiene. In the morning and in the evening - cleaning with a brush and paste, it is also advisable to use irrigators or special interdental (interdental) brushes. After eating - removal of food debris, and usually it is not recommended to use dental floss, as it can damage the mucous membrane and denture. Better to use an irrigator. Particular attention is paid to the gums, their inflammation should not be allowed;
Quitting smoking - it adversely affects the condition of the oral mucosa, which, in turn, is fraught with the risk of violation metabolic processes in the tissues around the implant and its rejection;
Limiting the load on the implant and prosthesis (do not gnaw nuts, do not open bottles with your teeth);
1-2 times a year it is necessary to remove dental deposits - plaque and stones, as they can provoke gum inflammation;
Needless to say, the face and jaw must be protected from injury in every possible way;
At least once a year - preventive examinations at the dentist to assess the condition of the dentition. Such inspections sometimes make it possible to identify the emerging problem in time and not to bring it to an extreme.

If you have personal experience prosthetics on implants - be sure to leave your feedback at the bottom of this page, telling if everything is great in this regard, or if you have any problems.