Implant exchange

Breast implants don't last forever, and most patients will need to exchange them at least once in their lifetime.

 

There’s no fixed timeline for this, and I’ll make recommendations based on how your breasts look and feel.

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Common reasons for implant exchange include:

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• Capsular contracture: hardening of the scar tissue around your implant, which may change the shape of your implant and cause your breast to become firm and tender.

• Implant rupture.

• Implant rippling, which means your implant can be felt or seen.

• Desire for a different size or shape.

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Implant exchange operations can vary in complexity. In some cases, your implants can simply be removed and exchanged for others. At other times, more complex surgery may be required — for example, to remove internal scarring (capsulectomy), to transfer fat to thicken the tissue over your implant, or to combine your implant exchange with a breast uplift.

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We’ll discuss all the options with you in clinic to help you choose the one that suits you best. We may also use a pre-operative ultrasound or MRI scan to help plan your surgery.