Breast Implant Replacement

Breast implants are synthetic and do not last forever. Implant replacement surgery is necessary when the implants fail or get old. Doctors also perform implant replacement surgery because some women want different sized breasts. The surgery also corrects capsular contracture, which occurs when the scar tissue or capsule that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes the implant.
Capsular contracture
Capsular contracture is the most common reason for removing a breast implant. Occurring in 10 to 20% of patients within 10 years of their breast augmentation, capsular contracture is treated by removing the tight capsule around the breast implant (capsulectomy) followed by removing the implant.

Rupture
About 3 to 5% of breast implants will rupture over 10 years after breast augmentation. Once diagnosed, the ruptured breast implant will have to be removed as soon as possible and possibly replaced.

Asymmetry
In rare cases, the breasts can appear asymmetrical or uneven after breast augmentation. This unevenness is typically due to pre-existing natural breast asymmetry prior to the breast augmentation. After insertion, breast implants may also shift in their position on the chest leading to breast asymmetry. In cases of significant asymmetry after breast augmentation, the breast implants may have to be removed or if being replaced, the implant pocket will have to be revised prior to inserting another implant.

Rippling
Visible rippling after breast augmentation is a difficult problem to address. This problem typically occurs in women who have thin breast tissue covering their breast implants. Removal of the breast implants in suck women will likely lead to a deflated appearance to their breasts which may require a breast lift or mastopexy.

Infection
Infection occurs in approximately 3 to 5% of breast augmentation surgeries. In cases of superficial infections, antibiotics alone will typically treat the problem. When the infection involved the deeper tissues within the breast, the breast implant may be involved. As the breast implant does not have its own blood supply, it can not fight the infecting bacteria. Removal of an infected breast implant is therefore necessary. Another breast implant can be replaced into the affected breast once the infection has fully resolved.