What is breast implant revision surgery?

The goal of breast implant revision surgery is to replace old breast implants with new implants. Often the goal is also to change or improve the appearance of the breasts while updating the implant material, which could include:

• A concurrent breast lift or reduction
• Reshaping the breast implant pocket to reposition the implant on the chest
• Either increasing or decreasing the size, shape or style of the breast implant

The desire to have breast implant revision surgery can be because of any of the following reasons:

• Desire to change the size of the breasts
• Pain from capsular contracture
• Concern about rupture or migration of implant
• Change from saline to silicone or different style of implant

Over time, breast implants can change shape or size, and the overlying breast tissue can also change, creating an appearance or feel to the breast that is less desirable than the original result. Also, many breast implants have a lifetime warranty on the actual implant device, but after ten years the costs associated with having surgery to replace the implants are no longer covered. Because of this, many women will elect to replace or update their breast implants at or around the 10-year time frame.

Some women may choose to remove the implants with the surrounding capsule (the scar tissue) all together without replacement. This approach is often recommended in cases where the patient presents with concerns such as breast implant illness. In other selected cases involving older or textured implants, capsular contracture and when dealing with ruptured implants, the total capsulectomy with “en masse” technique may be performed. This involves removing the implant together with the intact surrounding scar tissue (Capsule) as one unit, without opening the capsule to ensure a more controlled and complete removal. These procedures may require additional techniques such as pocket adjustment, tissue support, muscle repair, or reshaping to achieve a balanced and natural result following explantation.

Breast implant revision surgery is not a standard or routine procedure and needs to be tailored specifically to the patient’s goals and desires. Therefore, this surgery should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon who is well-trained and experienced in all types of breast surgery and who will listen to the patient’s goals and desires and will develop a surgical plan specifically to address all of the issues at the time of surgery.