Implant replacement surgery is a relatively simple procedure that requires a Plastic surgeon to remove your current breast implants and replace them with new implants inside the body. If old implants are being replaced with new ones of a similar shape and size, the procedure is quite simple. As scar tissue forms around all breast implants 100% of the time, this scar tissue or capsule has to be entered to remove then replace the breast implants. However, if you elect to change the size of your implants more than about 100 cc’s, (3 ounces) your surgeon will need to work on the existing pockets within the breast, which adds time, money, and a level of expertise needed to complete the surgery. The scar tissue needs to be excised to allow the larger implant to be placed into the pocket. This is important because where the scar tissue is excised, the new implant volume will preferentially fill that area and your breast will be fuller there. It is important to find a board certified plastic surgeon that has expertise in breast implant replacement surgery to do the procedure, like Dr. Kole at The Kole Plastic Surgery Center Center. He has had great success in replacing old implants with new ones for a variety of reasons, and his patients are quite satisfied with the natural appearing feel and overall results.
There are a few reasons why you might want to switch your existing implants with new implants. First, you may want to update your implants if you have had previous implants for over ten years and notice changes in the way they look and feel. While it is recommended to switch implants about every 10 years, it is not necessary if they are still positioned in their original place and have maintained the soft and genuine feel of the natural breast. However, if your implants have shifted over the years from having children or gaining weight, or if they have begun to create a rippled affect on your breasts, or you have the older silicone type implants, you may want to consider having revision surgery to replace your old implants.
Second, many women decide to change the size of the breasts, and therefore need replacement surgery to exchange one size of implant for another. Whether you are electing for a bigger size or have decided to go down a size, Dr. Kole is an expert in creating a natural-looking transition that will leave patients with their desired breast volume. Again, if you are planning on changing the size of your implant more than 100 cc’s, the surgery becomes more complex because the surgeon will need to work on the pockets within the breast in order to ensure that the implants fit well inside the body.
Another reason why you may want to replace your implants is if you are opting to use a different implant material. The most recent trend in plastic surgery has been to move away from saline-filled implants and move towards silicone gel implants. Since the new silicone implants have been approved by the FDA since late 2007, the silicone gives breasts a more natural feel, especially in thin women with little native breast tissue. While Dr. Kole recognizes that there are pros and cons to both materials, he believes that both options are great and should be determined by the patient’s preference. To learn more about saline vs. silicone implants, click here where Dr. Kole explains the differences.
Both Allergan and Mentor offer their patients a lifetime warranty on the physical breast implant if the implant breaks. The implant is replaced by the manufacturer at no charge. They also offer up to $1200 dollars to cover the facility of hospital fees regardless of who the original surgeon was as long as the warranty claim is within 10 years of the date of implantation.
For more information about the replacement procedure and other reasons why you may want to get implant replacements, contact Dr. Kole’s office at 215-315-7655 for a complimentary consultation about breast augmentation and breast implant replacement surgery.
