Breast Implant Removal vs Replacement: What You Need to Know

Breast implants aren't designed to be a lifelong product, and many women that have undergone augmentation surgery at some point in the future will have a situation when they are considering the possibility of removing or replacing their breast implants. The decision you need to make is very personal, and it all depends on the factors why you want to get rid of or exchange your implants, the condition of the present implants and surrounding tissues, and how you see your breasts in the future.

This guide covers all the differences between implant removal and replacement surgery and helps you to understand the reasons why a woman decides on one or another type of procedure.

Why Women Consider Removal or Replacement

There are not any definite reasons for reaching this point; usually, these include one or several of the following:

• Change of preference regarding preferred breast augmentation result, including preference for changing implant size or for removing implants completely;

• Any problems associated with implants, including suspected rupture, capsular contracture (hardening of the capsule of the scar tissue surrounding the implant), rippling;

• Implant's age, since implants are not supposed to last forever and should be assessed from time to time over the years;

• Body changes due to ageing, weight gain or loss, or due to pregnancy, and their effect on the way implants look;

• General health or peace of mind reasons, involving desire to make life easier and decrease implant-related concerns.

Finding out which reason is your main reason for considering changing implants is a good starting point in this situation.

What Implant Removal Involves

Implant removal, alternatively known as explantation, refers to surgically removing the implants without replacing them with others. Whether the surrounding capsule, which is nothing but the scar tissue, will be removed or left in place depending on the nature of the capsule and individual circumstances.

Major points regarding implant removal:

• It can either be done as a solo procedure, or along with other procedures like breast lift, as per the requirement

• May or may not involve removal of the surrounding capsule (scar tissue), depending on individual findings

• The final look of the breasts after only the removal process depends heavily on the elasticity of the skin, original breast tissues, and the duration for which one had implants

What is Involved in Implant Replacement

Implant replacement refers to removing the old implants and then placing new ones during the same surgery. It is a common option for women who wish to retain the volume and shape of the implants but have some issues related to them.

Implant replacement involves:

• Current implants are taken out, along with any problems like capsular contracture that you might have with them

• New implants may be larger, smaller, rounder, fuller, or made of a different material, providing the chance to alter your look if your needs have shifted

• Often takes advantage of the existing pocket in which the implants were previously placed, although this can be adjusted by your doctor based on your situation

Removal With or Without Reconstruction

With regards to women opting for removal, one thing to consider along with this is a breast lift with the removal procedure. With removal of implants that have been inserted for quite some time, there could be situations where the breast tissue will not lift up completely by itself, especially in cases of large implants or implants inserted for long periods of time.

With a breast lift done with removal, this would ensure that breast tissue is placed in its proper place and excess skin is eliminated, giving the lift effect using only your own breast tissue. Whether this needs to be done would depend on individual circumstances such as skin elasticity and remaining breast tissue.

Signs Your Implants May Need Attention

Whereas regular monitoring is one of the aspects of the implant’s maintenance in the long run, independent of whether there are any symptoms or not, there are certain indicators which would recommend you schedule a consultation rather than wait for a next check-up:

• Change in breast shape, consistency or symmetry

• Painful feeling that was not there before

• Rippling or other irregularities under the skin

• Lump or other change in appearance detected while examining yourself

• Just getting to a stage when your implants have become older but no inspection took place

In case you detect any of the above mentioned symptoms, they should be checked out by a specialist immediately.

What Happens to Breast Shape After Removal

It is one of the most frequent issues women have about the procedure performed on its own, and the truth is that this differs greatly from person to person. The elements that affect the breast shape after the implant removal include the following:

• How long you’ve been having implants

• The size of the implants you’ve had

• The skin elasticity and natural breast tissue

• If you’re planning on having the implant removal along with the breast lift

The result is that some women manage to get their natural breast shape back quite well after the removal procedure, especially if it’s done with smaller implants and good skin elasticity.

Recovery Differences

Recovery from both removal surgery and replacement surgery is largely the same as the original surgery recovery, and includes:

• Some swelling, bruising, and pain for the first one or two weeks after surgery

• Time during which you are required to avoid physical activity, especially weight lifting and upper body exercise

• A support garment to wear as recommended by your surgeon during the first healing process

• A return to your regular activities within several weeks

If there is a breast lift in conjunction with either removal or replacement surgery, then there might be some extra factors in the recovery process.

Risks and Safety Considerations

Removal and replacement surgeries have common risks of all surgeries such as infection, bleeding, and reactions to anaesthesia. There are special issues that you should take into account, regarding the removal and replacement surgeries, such as the state of your scar tissue, especially in the case of capsular contracture.

Questions Worth Asking During Consultation

No matter whether you're inclined towards removal or replacement, a few key questions will help guide the discussion in your consultation:

• How is the present condition of my implants and capsule? 

• In the case that I opt for removal alone, what do I expect my breast to look like afterward considering my body?

• Would adding a breast lift enhance the result in any way?

• In case of replacement, what type or what adjustments in size would be reasonable for me considering the new state of my body?

• What is the proper follow-up plan for my future?

These questions added to your consultation are very helpful in making sure the whole discussion goes beyond possibilities and focuses on realism.

Cost Factors to Understand

The cost of surgery for the removal or replacement of implants varies depending on whether the removal of capsules is required, whether the implants are being replaced and their type, as well as whether there is breast lift in addition to the surgery. The replacement surgery that involves the implantation of new implants costs more than the surgery without implants, due to the increased cost of the implants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need removal or replacement rather than just leaving my implants alone?

This will be influenced by your own reasons for thinking about changing, either due to a medical problem, potential complications, or just because you have different preferences. Consultation and examination will help to determine which option is best for your case.

Will my breasts look normal after implant removal? 

This will vary greatly according to how long you have been using the implants, their size, and your skin elasticity. Some women get quite a natural appearance through removal, while others get better results when they remove and lift their breasts.

How often should implants be checked or monitored? 

This will depend on the implant type and particularly if you have silicone implants that cannot always be diagnosed in case of their rupture. Your surgeon will tell you how often you need to have your breasts examined.

Can I get smaller or larger implants during replacement? 

Yes, this procedure provides an opportunity to change the size, shape, or even material of the implants depending on your preferences.

Do I need a breast lift if I remove my implants? 

Though this is not always the case, it is definitely a factor to consider, especially in cases where women have larger breast implants or more time passes since they got their implants.