Breast Implant Revision: What You Need to Know

Medically reviewed by Frank Lista, MDCertified Plastic Surgeon
Written byJolene EdgarUpdated on August 29, 2023
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Medically reviewed by Frank Lista, MDCertified Plastic Surgeon
Written byJolene EdgarUpdated on August 29, 2023
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Breast implant revision surgery can address a variety of concerns for people who've had prior breast augmentation surgery, to improve the feel and appearance of the breasts. While some women just want to change their implant size or trade up to newer implant technology, others seek revision surgery to correct issues resulting from a previous surgery, such as:

  • capsular contracture (when the scar tissue “capsule” around the implant becomes painfully firm and squeezes the implant—one of the most common reasons for revision procedures)
  • implant rupture
  • wrinkling or rippling
  • sagging breasts
  • asymmetry 
  • double bubble (when the implant falls below the breast crease) or “bottoming out” (when it drops too low on the chest wall)  
  • symmastia, commonly called a "uniboob," which occurs when implants were placed too close together
  • BIA-ALCL, a rare type of lymphoma that can develop around breast implants with a textured surface

Many women choose to replace old saline implants with newer silicone gel implants (which look and feel more natural) or swap textured implants for smooth ones, to reduce their risk of ALCL. Others remove implants without replacing them, either opting to go natural (with or without a breast lift) or get a subtle size boost from fat grafting.

In any case, breast implant revision procedures are quite common. One study estimates revision rates following primary augmentation to be as high as 36%.

Good candidates for breast implant revision surgery are healthy nonsmokers at a stable weight who want to improve the size, shape, look, and feel of their breasts or correct a complication. 

Interested in breast implant revision?

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Pros

  • Breast implant revision surgery can align your breast shape and size with your current aesthetic preference or body type (if you’ve experienced significant weight gain or loss).
  • A breast implant revision procedure can correct painful complications, such as capsular contracture, or aesthetically unpleasant ones like symmastia.
  • Recovery from revision surgery is usually easier than after an initial breast augmentation procedure. 
  • Revision surgery costs may also be lower, especially if you return to your original surgeon or if your implants are still covered under the manufacturer's warranty.

Cons

  • Breast implant patients often undergo more than one revision procedure in their lifetime—either due to complications or evolving tastes—so this isn’t necessarily a one-and-done surgery.
  • Your breast shape will continue to change as you age due to weight changes, tissue thinning, hormones, and gravity, so it's important to have realistic expectations about the longevity of your results.
  • A breast implant revision procedure can be expensive, and insurance doesn’t cover it. 
  • Your new implants will also carry risks and potential side effects (though they may be lower due to new implant technology—for example, better shells and more cohesive silicone gels that can reduce the risk of ruptures or leaks). Your plastic surgeon should discuss all possible risks during your initial consultation.

  • Average Cost:
  • $8,525
  • Range:
  • $4,200 - $18,435

Your breast implant revision cost will depend on the experience level of your surgeon, their practice location, the type of new implants you choose, and the details of your treatment plan, including what kind of anesthesia you have.

Insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic procedures like these, even when they’re performed to fix a complication like capsular contracture.

All FDA-approved implant brands offer warranties that cover a portion of the cost of surgery to resolve a serious problem caused by the implant, like a rupture. Coverage varies, but even if your case qualifies, the warranty will only cover the cost of the implant itself—not the surgeon’s fee and other expenses.

Most surgeons offer payment plans and accept third-party financing options, such as CareCredit.

See our complete guide to breast implant revision surgery costs

Interested in breast implant revision?

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The breast implant revision photos in our gallery have been shared by the surgeon who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

There’s a common misconception that implant replacement needs to be done every 10 to 15 years. While breast implants aren’t made to last a lifetime, they don’t have a standard expiration date. 

“If you have no problems with your implants, then nothing needs to be done with them,” explains Dr. Frank Lista, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Mississauga, Ontario. However, it’s important to monitor the integrity of your implants on a regular basis. 

Women with saline-filled implants can check their status simply by looking in the mirror. Leakage is obvious, since a ruptured implant results in deflation. Leaked saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body, but most women choose to have a deflated saline implant replaced.

The current FDA recommendation for silicone implants is to have an ultrasound or MRI five to six years after the initial placement and every two to three years after that, to ensure that there hasn't been a silent rupture. 

If you don't experience a complication and you're happy with how they look, you probably don't need to worry about replacing your implants.

RealSelf Tip: Considering having your implants removed but not replaced? See our complete guide to breast implant removal.

Expect to wait at least a few months after your primary breast augmentation before you can have revision surgery. 

"You should wait at least four to six months before considering a revision, as it usually takes this long for your breasts to settle. However, if your recovery rate is slow, then you should wait a little longer," says Toronto, Ontario plastic surgeon Dr. Jerome Edelstein.

Breast implant revision surgery takes one to three hours, depending on its complexity, the surgeon’s technique, and whether a complementary procedure (like breast lift or fat transfer) is performed in the same operation.

Each revision procedure has a customized surgical plan, designed to address the patient's needs and goals. During a consultation with your surgeon, you'll discuss whether you want them to address specific concerns or simply change your implant size. You’ll then be able to choose from a variety of different sizes, shapes, materials, and brands. Learn more about choosing your new implants.

This outpatient procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia (meaning you’ll be completely asleep), but it can be done under local anesthesia with IV sedation. 

Here’s what will happen once the anesthesia takes effect.

  • Your surgeon will make an incision, most likely in the same location as in your original procedure.
  • If you’re changing your breast size, implant placement, or implant type, your surgeon will irrigate and then manipulate the space inside the breast tissue to better accommodate the new implant. Placing a bigger implant may require enlarging the implant pocket. 
  • To correct malposition or a double bubble deformity, they may need to use an acellular dermal matrix (also called a surgical mesh or an “internal bra”) such as AlloDerm or Strattice, to add support within the breast pocket.
  • If you have capsular contracture, your doctor will release or remove the tightened capsule in a procedure known as a capsulectomy before inserting a new implant. Capsules are also routinely removed when a silicone implant leaks or ruptures, or a patient has a confirmed case of BIA-ALCL.
  • Those with symmastia (a condition that causes the breast implant pockets to merge together in the center of the chest) will likely need to have scar tissue in the midline removed first. Then, the singular capsular pocket—which commonly develops from too much dissection along the midline of the chest—will need to be repaired to create two distinct pockets, situated further apart on the chest. From there, the implants will be repositioned (or replaced for smaller options), and permanent internal sutures and/or mesh will be used to help hold the implants in the correct position.
  • Some women, especially those who are removing or downsizing their implants, have a breast lift as part of their revision surgery, which usually requires new incisions. Depending on the amount of lift that’s needed, the incision can range from part of the way around the areola to the entire way around it, with a vertical incision extending down to the crease of the breast (the inframammary fold). If you need a significant amount of sagging skin removed, there may also be a horizontal incision along the breast crease.
  • If your breast implant revision procedure involves fat grafting—to add volume or hide implant edges, rippling, or tissue defects—your doctor will liposuction excess fat from other body areas, process the fat to purify it, and re-inject it into the breasts using a cannula. Fat can be used alongside breast implants or in place of them.

When you wake up, a bandage will cover your incisions, and you’ll be wearing a compression bra. 

You'll go home that same day, once the anesthesia has worn off. Have someone you trust with you, to make sure you get home safely.

You'll be given anesthesia during the surgery itself, so you won’t be able to feel anything. 

More good news: “Revisionary breast surgery is generally associated with very minimal recovery time and discomfort, compared to first-time breast augmentation,” says Dr. Tom Pousti, a plastic surgeon in La Mesa, California. “This is because the submuscular pocket [into which the implant is placed] has already been stretched.”

Most women need two or three days of downtime after a revision, but the full recovery period can vary, depending on the complexity of your surgery and how much the tissue was disturbed. 

Follow all the instructions given to you by your surgeon, including keeping your incisions clean, wearing a compression garment to help reduce swelling, and taking pain medication as needed to keep you comfortable.

You can expect to feel sore and tired for up to 72 hours after surgery. You’ll also have swelling and bruising that can last for several weeks.

Most patients return to work a few days after surgery, but avoid too much physical activity during the first two weeks. Refrain from raising your arms above your head or lifting anything over 10 pounds. 

Light activities, like walking, can encourage blood flow and decrease swelling.

You’ll see your initial results within three months, once the majority of the swelling has gone down, and your final results in about a year, once all swelling has subsided. 

It takes at least three months for your new breasts to “drop and fluff,” which means that your natural breast tissue has stretched to accommodate the implant and the muscles have relaxed.

Scars will fade throughout the first year after surgery. Silicone scar therapy can help minimize the appearance of scarring.

Related: What Should You Do If You Don't See the Results You Wanted?

When it’s performed by an experienced plastic surgeon, breast implant revision surgery has a very high success rate. However, as with any surgical procedure, it’s not completely risk-free. 

Potential side effects include infection, bleeding, hematoma, scarring, capsular contracture, implant rupture, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and unsatisfactory results that may require yet another revision surgery.

Learn more in our complete breast implant safety guide.

Interested in breast implant revision?

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Updated August 29, 2023

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