Breast Implant Revision

Breast implant revision or implant replacement is a surgical procedure to replace an old implant with a newer one. It is done for several reasons, including cosmetic and medical concerns. Breast implant revision helps you improve the breast shape by increasing or decreasing the breast size by replacing silicone or saline implants. Breast implant revision is a highly individualized procedure that doesn't fit the needs of all patients by one standard method. Instead, it is tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Ideally, anyone who is medically stable and has no health issues may be a suitable candidate for breast implant revision.

What is Breast Implant Revision?
Types of Breast Implant Revision
Why Breast Implant Revision?
What Conditions Are Breast Implant Revision a Solution to?
Steps to getting your procedure
Cost of Breast Implant Revision
Why Yes Doctor for Breast Implant Revision
Frequently Asked Questions
Doctors that perform Breast Implant Revision procedures
Yes Doctor’s Plastic Surgery Procedure Breast Implant Revision

What is Breast Implant Revision?

Breast implant revision is a surgical procedure to replace old implants with newer ones. Primarily the surgical procedure aims to improve the breast profile while updating the implant material. The goals of the surgery include: 

  • A concurrent breast reduction or lift 

  • Repositioning the implant inside the breast by reshaping the implant pocket 

  • Changing the shape, size, or style of the implant 

The need to have a breast revision may arise due to cosmetic or medical reasons: 

  • Desire to have a new breast profile by changing the size 

  • Pain due to capsular contracture 

  • Risk of implant leakage or migration of the implant 

  • Change from silicone to saline or vice versa 

With time or age, breast implants change their shape, changing the shape and size of the overlying tissues. Sometimes migration of the implant causes the breast to get an undesirable appearance, like irregularities and indentations. Breast implant revision offers a solution to such problems. 

Many implants have a lifetime warranty on the actual implant, but the cost of implant replacement after ten years isn't covered, which is why many women prefer to replace it within ten years. Breast implant revision is a patient-specific procedure tailored to the patient's needs. Choosing an experienced surgeon to have your implants revised is highly recommended. 

Steps of the breast implant revision procedure

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis and involves the following steps:

Anesthesia

Your doctor will choose the right type of anesthesia for you. It can either be general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.

Incisions

The type of incision for a breast implant revision surgery depends on where the revision occurs. The surgery can include one or more of the following incisions:

  • Inframammary incision (the lower fold of the breast)

  • Breast lift incision – either the vertical incision or Wise pattern incision

  • Partially or fully around the areola (periareolar incision)

Closing the incisions

After replacing the implants, incisions are sutured, taped, or glued with skin adhesives.

You cannot see the accurate results of the breast implant revision surgery immediately after the procedure due to swelling of the breast tissues. It takes almost six or more weeks for the swelling to subside. Sometimes, it takes up to a year for the breasts to look normal.

The downtime for each patient is different because it depends mainly on the patient's age, body anatomy, and medical history. However, discussing realistic surgery expectations with your surgeon would be best.

Types of Breast Implant Revision

  • Which Breast Implant Revision is Right for You?

    Breast implant revision refers to a range of surgical procedures to address issues or change existing breast augmentation. There are several types of breast implant revision procedures, including implant exchange, implant removal and replacement, capsulectomy, and correction of asymmetry. Implant exchange involves removing and replacing old implants with new ones, often to change the size and type or address complications such as ruptures or capsular contracture. Implant removal and replacement refer to replacing old implants with new ones, either in the same pocket or in a newly created pocket. Capsulectomy involves the removal of scar tissue that has formed around the implant, often to address issues such as capsular contracture or asymmetry. Correction of asymmetry involves adjusting the size or position of one or both implants to achieve a more balanced and symmetrical appearance. Each of these procedures requires a thorough understanding of the patient's goals and expectations and the expertise of a qualified plastic surgeon.

  • Implant exchange

    Implant exchange refers to a surgical procedure in which one or both breast implants are removed and replaced with new ones. This procedure is performed for various reasons, including changing the size or type of implant, addressing complications such as capsular contracture or implant ruptures, or achieving a desired appearance. Implant exchange can also be performed to remove old or outdated implants and replace them with new, more advanced options. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and can take one to two hours. The new implants are inserted either in the existing pocket or in a new pocket created by the surgeon. The recovery period for an implant exchange typically lasts one to two weeks, with full recovery taking several weeks. Discussing the options and potential outcomes with a qualified plastic surgeon is important.

  • Implant removal and replacement

    Implant removal and replacement refer to a surgical procedure in which one or both breast implants are taken out and replaced with new ones. This procedure is performed for various reasons, including addressing complications such as implant ruptures or capsular contracture, removing outdated implants and replacing them with newer, more advanced options, or achieving a desired appearance. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and can take one to two hours. After the old implants are removed, the new ones are inserted either in the existing pocket or in a new one created by the surgeon. The recovery period for implant removal and replacement typically lasts one to two weeks, with full recovery taking several weeks. Discussing the options and potential outcomes with a qualified plastic surgeon is important.

  • Capsulectomy

    Capsulectomy is a surgical procedure in which the scar tissue formed around a breast implant, also known as a capsule, is removed. This procedure is often performed to address complications such as capsular contracture, which occurs when the capsule tightens and squeezes the implant, causing discomfort, distortion of the shape of the breast, and sometimes pain. Capsulectomy can also be performed to remove a capsule that has become thick and unsightly or to make it easier to remove an implant or perform another type of revision surgery. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and can take one to two hours. The recovery period for a capsulectomy typically lasts one to two weeks, with full recovery taking several weeks. Discussing the options and potential outcomes with a qualified plastic surgeon is important.

  • Correction of asymmetry

    Correction of asymmetry is a surgical procedure in which one or both breast implants are adjusted to achieve a more symmetrical appearance. This procedure may be performed for various reasons, including to address differences in size or shape between the two breasts, to correct changes that have occurred over time, or to achieve a desired aesthetic outcome. Correction of asymmetry may involve adjusting the size of one or both implants, repositioning one or both implants, or performing a combination of both. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and can take one to two hours. The recovery period for correction of asymmetry typically lasts one to two weeks, with full recovery taking several weeks. Discussing the options and potential outcomes with a qualified plastic surgeon is important.

Why Breast Implant Revision?

Breast implants don't have an expiry date, but they don't last for a lifetime. The answer to why and how often you want a breast implant revision depends on certain factors like your age, body anatomy, personal preferences, medical record, and the experience of your plastic surgeon. 

Few women don't change their implants for decades. They keep having the same implant until it bothers them. One in five women undergoes a breast implant revision within the 10-year mark due to their changing bodies or aesthetic interests. Choosing the right surgeon and your health record significantly impact this number. The more experienced your surgeon is, the better the implant's longevity. Following up with your surgeon for postoperative assessments and implant self-examination also adds to its lifespan.

The average life of an implant is somewhere between 10-20 years, but why women choose to have them replaced sooner depends on one or more of the following reasons:

  • Leak of deflated implant
  • Change implant size
  • Removal of implant
  • Tighten scar tissue
  • Weight loss/weight gain

What Conditions Are Breast Implant Revision a Solution to?

Breast implant revision or breast revision is a surgery to replace old implants with new ones. Breast implant surgery is done for cosmetic and non-cosmetic (medical) reasons. Even if your implantation was well-executed by an experienced surgeon, still it's not risk-free because, with time, so many changes occur in your breast size and shape and the position of the implant. Malposition of the implant affects the overlying breast tissues causing disfigurement, indentations, and irregularities. On the other hand, in some cases, our bodies treat the implant as a foreign body and respond adversely to the stimulus by showing an autoimmune response, rheumatic disorders, or capsular contracture. However, breast implant revision is sometimes done purely for cosmetic reasons, i.e., decreasing or increasing breast size. Such concerns lead to the need for a breast revision. In a nutshell, breast implant revision is done when goals change, or issues arise. Breast revision surgery is not a 'one size fits all' surgery. It is a highly individualized process tailored to the needs of patients. It's imperative to choose an experienced plastic surgeon for your breast revision and discuss your goals and realistic expectation beforehand. To summarize, a breast implant revision is chosen for the following medical concerns:

  • Capsular contracture

    Capsular contracture is a medical complication in women who have breast implants any time after their initial surgery. It happens due to the contracture of the capsule formed around the implant after the breast implant surgery, resulting in the hardening of the breast tissues. In capsular contracture, the implant gets constricted by circumferential compression. It doesn't only causes hardening of the breast tissues but also makes them look uneven and induces pain and discomfort. Capsular contracture is not much likely to develop. One in ten patients develops this complication typically within two years of the implant. However, the time can vary; there is no thumb rule to predict when a particular patient is more likely to develop it.

  • Damaged lymph nodes

    Silicone lymphadenopathy is a well-known but rare complication of breast implants. Silicone leakage from a rupture causes the silicone to accumulate in the lymph nodes in the armpit and cause them to enlarge. If the accumulated silicone causes pain and discomfort, the implant must be removed. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications.

  • Developing seroma

    Bulging sacs of liquid in the breast area after operations such as biopsy, mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast enlargement, breast reduction, prosthesis explantation, and breast reconstruction are known as breast seromas. Symptoms of seromas include swelling and uneasiness. Several treatments can address them, such as draining the fluid, revising the implant, or providing compression. It is a common complication that can occur in the early postoperative period. However, the actual rate of occurrence of late seroma complications after breast implantation is unknown.

  • Pinched nerves

    It is a real but infrequently brought up worry that nerve compression, alterations in feeling, and long-term discomfort may occur after a breast implant. Research has demonstrated that the probability of nerve harm after breast enlargement can be anywhere from 13.57% to 15.44%. The right and prompt treatment by a team of professionals can tackle the matter. Potential treatments include removing or altering the implant in combination with surgical nerve repair.

  • Poor implant placement

    The choice to place an implant, whether under the muscle or over the muscle, depends on many factors, like your body type, health record, the actual size (cc's) of the implants, silicone vs. saline implants, and your individual goals and desires. Your muscle density and the amount of tissue in your breast before the implant are also decisive factors in implant placement. An experienced surgeon always knows these details and does the correct placement. A poorly placed implant doesn't give an even or symmetrical look, resulting in disfigurement and, eventually, the breast implant revision.

Steps to getting your procedure

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Step 1

Research

Step 2

Matching with a doctor

Step 3

Getting financing

Step 4

Booking a consultation

Cost of Breast Implant Revision

The average cost of the breast implant revision may vary depending upon the doctor's experience, operation room charges, preoperative and postoperative medicines, or surgeon's fees. Also, the costs depend directly on the size of the revisioned implant and the location of the doctor's office. Usually, cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance plans, but the insurance may cover a breast implant revision if your surgeon declares it a medical emergency.

Why Yes Doctor for Breast Implant Revision

Getting financing for your dream procedure has never been this easy. Yes Doctor provides end-to-end support to make your dreams come true.  Yes Doctor offers the Buy Now, Pay Later—a payment solution to split the purchase cost into multiple easy installments. It enables patients to pay their medical bills over time rather than all at once, lowering their monthly bills and letting them continue moving forward with their healthcare journey. Yes Doctor is a financial bridge between the patient and doctor to get the proper treatment right when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Since the implants do not last for a lifetime, ideally, they may need revision after about 10-15 years on average. With that said, if implants are up and running, intact, and not creating any trouble, there is no need to replace them. Many patients have had their implants for over 20 years without problems. Not changing implants after having experienced mild to severe symptoms of possible complications can lead to a medical emergency. If you want to learn more about breast augmentation with or without revision, please choose plastic surgeons from Yes Doctor's list of board-certified doctors and clarify your concerns.
Here are a few common signs and symptoms that warn that it's time for breast revision now: The implant is causing pain, or discomfort Implant rupture or leakage The implant is moving or rotating The implant has fallen below the breast crease The implant is changing shape The implant is causing capsular contracture Your aesthetic interests are changing
The recovery time for breast revision is shorter than that for initial breast augmentation surgery. However, strenuous work should be avoided for three weeks after the procedure. Moreover, smoking causes the narrowing of blood vessels resulting in a lesser supply of oxygen, food, and nutrients. Smoking should be avoided, and one should have realistic expectations from the surgery because risk factors like capsular contracture, pain, lymph node swelling, and tissue swelling are always there.
Patients with breast implant illness often attempt to reduce the severity of their symptoms by having their breast implants revised. This can successfully decrease the signs of BII, but the problems will likely return later. This might be because these patients are more prone to experiencing adverse effects from the implants.

Doctors that perform Breast Implant Revision procedures

George Dreszer-thumbnail

George Dreszer

Fort Lauderdale, FL
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