Breast implants do not last a lifetime, and the timing of implant replacement surgery depends on the patient. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approves breast implants for 10 to 20 years. Some patients may replace their breast implants every decade, while others wait longer and only have one or two replacement procedures in their lifetime. It may be time to replace your breast implants if you develop asymmetrical breasts or breast tenderness, firmness, discomfort, deflation, or other signs that the implant may have ruptured or leaked.