Women who have had breast augmentation surgery may decide to have breast implant revision surgery to improve the appearance of their breasts, as the look and feel of their breasts can change over time. Sometimes women want to have breast implant revision surgery because they are not happy with the results of the original breast implant surgery. Breast implant removal and replacement surgery can restore a more aesthetic and comfortable appearance to the breasts.
What are the benefits of breast implant removal and replacement?
Restores your breasts to the desired shape and size
Breast implants are placed in the correct position to be compatible with your breasts.
Previous implants are replaced with new, modern implants.
Who is eligible for implant removal and replacement?
If you think you have any of the conditions listed below, you may be a candidate for breast implant removal and replacement surgery:
If you want to improve the appearance of your breasts
If your breast implants have shifted and are no longer in a favourable position in relation to the natural breast tissue
If your breasts are uneven or asymmetrical
If your breast implants are leaking or have ruptured
If your breast implants are very old (15 years or more)
How is breast implant replacement carried out?
With a ruptured saline implant, most patients find that one breast shrinks over time and no longer fills the bra as it used to. Eventually, the saline implant will deflate completely. This can happen over a period of days, weeks or even months. Because saline is harmless and absorbed by the body, it is usually not painful. Leakage of saline breast implants can usually be confirmed by examination by a plastic surgeon. Sometimes an additional test, such as a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, may be done to diagnose a saline implant rupture.
Replacement of the saline implant should be done as soon as possible, using the same incision as the original breast implant surgery. Implant replacement surgery usually has the advantage of being less painful and having a quicker recovery than the original breast augmentation surgery. With breast implant replacement surgery, the implant can be replaced with the same size implant, or you can choose to have it larger or smaller.
While a rupture of a saline breast implant will cause the breast to shrink noticeably, if you have silicone breast implants, it may be more difficult to tell if the implant is leaking or rupturing. The silicone gel tends to remain in the area of the leak, in which case the volume of the implant remains about the same and you may not notice a change in your breast size. Using your original breast implant incision, the new silicone implant can be placed by removing the leaking silicone implant and any free silicone gel. This breast revision surgery is usually simpler and less painful than the original breast augmentation surgery.