Recovery and Pain to Expect During Breast Implant Replacement?

My Breast implants were done in the early 80's. I just found out that they are both ruptured. I am very concerned about the removal of the silicone which has leaked.

However, I would also like to know if I can have them replaced, and is this going to be a very painful procedure? How long will I expect my breast implant recovery and pain to last? I have a very physical job.

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breasts leak pain female silicone implant recovery

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by butterfly12345 in florida

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A complicated question

Butterfly, Your question may be more complicated than it sounds. Since the implants are both leaking you will likely require total capsulectomies (removal of the entire scar capsule and implant) on both breasts. This can be a technically demanding surgery, with extensive dissection and a rough recovery depending on how adherent the capsules are to the muscle, ribs and surrounding structures. A consult with your board certified plastic surgeon will give you a better idea of how much and... more

Breast implant exchange

Generally, breast implant removal, even if ruptured, can be done with tolerable discomfort. The real discomfort comes if you need to convert from above the muscle to below. Even that discomfort however is only about the same as a first time under the muscle patient. I generally use drains in cases like yours and these can be in for about a week depending on the volume of drainage.

Recovery after Breast Implant Replacement

Recovery after Breast Implant replacement will vary significantly, depending on where the initial implant is (over or under the muscle) and the amount of spread of the silicone into the surrounding tissues. If the implant is under the muscle, the recovery will be longer, especially with a physical job. If over the muscle, recovery should only be a few days. The biggest question is how you discovered the ruptured implants. If this was by pure chance (a routine mammogram or study not related... more

Breast Implant Rupture

This is becoming a more prominent problem as a lot of the silicone implants placed earlier on are rupturing and patients are presenting for removal. Usually the scar tissue that surrounds the ruptured implant remains intact, at this can be removed all en bloc. On occasion I have had rupture of the silicone implant outside the capsule or scar tissue which results in silicone infiltrating into the breast tissue. This may require more time and pain overall. Also it depends if the breast... more

Implant rupture and replacement

Your question about post-operative pain is difficult to answer because the amount of infiltration of the silicon into the surrounding muscle and/or breast tissue as well as the presence of granulomas needs to be considered. It may be a very quick and easy replacement with mild pain, or more significant if extensive removal of tissues is required. Did you have an MRI (with or without contrast)?

Recovery expectation after Breast Implant Replacement

Hi there- The recovery experience you should expect will depend a great deal on the details of the operation you and your surgeon decide on after review of your current situation, your goals for appearance, and the alternatives available. Generally speaking, if you had the existing implants removed and new ones placed into the existing pockets, the pain and disability should be significantly less than you experienced with the initial procedure for their placement. Should you and your... more

Breast Implant Exchange

In most cases, the breast implant exchange procedure is much less involved than your original surgery. If your implants were placed under the muscle, then you may have had some discomfort after your original surgery from the muscle stretching. Since the muscle is already stretched, then you will not have this same discomfort. However, if you have contracture or scar tissue that needs to be resected then your recovery may be more involved. Good luck with your surgery.

Discomfort After Replacement of Ruptured Silicone Implants

Implant exchange is usually not a very uncomfortable procedure, but he leaking gel may make the surgery more involved, and cause more discomfort. Some docs prefer to use drainage tubes as well, so ask about this possibility. I agree with the other docs in that the implanty placement procedure is usually the most uncomfortable.

Implant rupture and replacement

The replacement of your implants after rupture is a fairly common event. This happens more comonly with older implants. It is usually not a big problem and can be done as an outpatient. The pain is not usually as bad as the first procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Pain of implant revmoval and replacement

Much of this depends on the extent of the rupture and whether the implants were placed under or over the muscle. Generally the pain of the first procedure tends to be associated with the stretching and surgical release of the muscle.