Yes, breast implants have warranties. Yup. Just like your car and refrigerator. In the past the warranty just covered implant leakage or rupture up to 10 years out. (So it didn’t cover capsular contracture, which is a more likely if you have an implant issue.) But with competition growing, the companies are also trying to become more competitive. It all benefits you.
What do they cover? It varies a little bit by brand.
NATRELLE (Allergan implants) for implants placed on or after November 1, 2014
- FREE lifetime product replacement for all implants in the event of implant rupture or deflation
- FREE financial assistance up to $3500 for 10 years in the event of implant rupture of Natrelle® Gel breast implants
- FREE financial assistance up to $7500 for rare event of BIA-ALCL diagnosis*
- FREE gel breast implant replacement for 10 years in the event of capsular contracture (Baker Grade III/IV) for Natrelle® Gel implants (valid for both primary AND revision surgeries)†
- Choose ANY style and size of Natrelle® Gel breast implant for replacement in case of any covered event with Natrelle® Gel implants†
- Financial assistance up to $2400 for 10 years in the event of implant deflation of Natrelle® Saline-Filled Breast Implants ($200 upgrade to ConfidencePlus® Premier required)
- For more information about the ConfidencePlus® warranty program, please talk to your surgeon or visit Natrelle.com/warranty.
SIENTRA
- FREE implant replacement if your implant ruptures for your lifetime
- 20 year: up to $5000 for uncovered costs and fees for implant rupture
- 20 year: FREE implant replacement for complications of capsular contracture (grade 3/4), late forming seroma, or double capsule
- NOTE: I don’t see seromas and double capsules in smooth walled implants- those are really issues of textured implants
- 2 year: Up to $2000 for uncovered costs and fees for capsular contracture (grade 3/4), late forming seroma or double capsule
- Any style or size of Sientra OPUS high strength cohesive gel implant for your replacement
- FREE contralateral implant
MENTOR
- All MemoryGel® Breast Implants come standard, free of charge with a 10 year warranty (from the date of implant)
- Up to $3500 of financial assistance for operating room, anesthesia costs, and surgical charges not covered by insurance.
- Free contralateral (opposite side) implant replacement available upon surgeon request.
- Some patients may also have purchased an optional plan designed to provide additional financial assistance for capsular contracture (Baker grade III/IV), double capsule, and late seroma complications.
- This optional plan provides 10 years coverage (from the date of implant) and up to $3500 of financial assistance for operating room, anesthesia costs, and surgical charges not covered by insurance.
The warranty does NOT cover many things:
- wanting to change size
- visible rippling or wrinkling
- implant migration
It does NOT cover usually the entire cost of your surgery. They usually cover the implant and a stipend to be applied to the surgery and OR fee.
What do I think?
- Implants are expensive, so I like that Allergan and Sientra replace a new implant for a lifetime.
- I like that Sientra and Mentor cover the other side- many women have issues with one breast implant and the other is fine, but it is great to replace both for symmetry and to restart the warranty clock at the same time.
- I like Allergan and Sientra companies cover capsular contracture now (Mentor if you buy the optional upgrade plan). In my practice, my capsular contracture rates are low, because of all the precautions I take for biofilm and capsular contracture reduction including preps, antibiotics, and the Keller funnel. But if you have a capsular contracture, you NEED to replace the implant, otherwise you are not clearing the bacterial colonization. I like that they cover a new implant in the case of capsular contracture.
- The money is great, but realistically doesn’t cover the extra costs of surgeon, anesthesia, and OR fees. But it helps. In some cases your insurance may also help.
**For exact warranty details, please see the company website. Some of these warranties vary from when the date of your surgery was.