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How Long After Explant Can I Re-implant?

asked 1 year ago by MW120 in Australia
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 404 times
Tags: breast size, implant, timing

Dear Doctors, I was explanted with capsulectomy 7 days ago, at my request due to implants being too large (375g/dual plane) and thinking I could return to my previous state. My surgeon recommended a smaller implant, rather than explant. My choice was wrong, and I now wish to do as he advised and have smaller implants "redone"...how long do I need to wait for this procedure after explant? Many thanks!

13 answers to How Long After Explant Can I Re-implant?

When to re-insert implants following explantation and capsulectomy

At this point in time, there will be a considerable amount of inflammation and swelling which can interfere with precision of a subsequent procedure. There may be other influences as well. My recommendation would be to wait around 4 - 6 months for much of this normal healing process to subside. Nevertheless, there is really no specific right answer as you have noted by the variety of responses.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Removal, Capsulectomies, and Reimplantation

Hi MW120, There's no absolute answer to this but I would think you'd need to wait at least 3-6 months. A lot depends on how you heal but removing implants and the surrounding scar tissue (the capsulectomy part) is not the most minor of procedures, and you'd like to wait until as much of the swelling has gone down. It's completely understandable that you didn't want implants put back in - but just as understandable that you now do. It's a HUGE... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Waiting after explantation

Sorry that you made the wrong deicision, but you shoudl probably wait four to six months for the breat to assimilate and heal after the impalnts were removed. Then you can place new smaller implants in the future.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Replacing breast implants after implant removal

Your situation is not unusual in that after wearing breast implants for a long time, they can be hard to live without. The best opportunity to replace the implants is at the time the old ones were removed and the capsules removed. We would now recommend that you wait about six months to allow the breast to heal, and then replace the implants so that the pocket and breast shape is better controlled. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Replacing implants

Discuss your options with your surgeon. I would consider doing the procedure soon in the early stages of wound healing or waiting at least 6 mo. until the scar tissue softens and matures.

Stephen Delia, M.D.
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Replacing removed implants

Go ahead and talk to your surgeon about it now. He or she knows your anatomy and case better than anyone else. He or she may feel comfortable going back sooner, rather than later. In general at this stage scar is forming, but is not firm. Shortly it will begin a phase that it becomes tougher to work with and you have to wait that phase out.

Byron D. Poindexter, MD
Reston Plastic Surgeon

How Soon for Reimplantation of Breast Implants

Although there are no specific guidelines, I would recommend waiting 3 months. Right now, you are going through an active healing phase that is involved with scar formation and swelling and this needs to settle down before you have any further surgery. Hope that helps and good luck! Dr. Babak Dadvand

Babak Dadvand, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Wait

Now that you are seven days post-op, the internal tissues already are starting to heal. I would want significant healing, scar maturation, swelling reduction, and tissue pliability prior to re-operating. My suggestion would be to wait several months.

Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Timing of Re-Augmentation Surgery?

Thank you for the question. It would probably be in your best interest to wait about 6 months before re-augmenting the breasts. In planning your revisionary breast augmentation procedure it will be very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. in my practice I find the use of goal pictures to be very helpful. in your case you could use your own before breast-feeding pictures as the goal. I have found that the use of words such as... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

How soon to re-implant after explantation of breast implants

Since you are only seven days out, you can actually have new implants place immediately. If you must wait longer, then I recommend 6 weeks to allow for most of the swelling to subside in order to achieve a more reliable aesthetic outcome.

Leif Liu Rogers, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Timing for surgical revisions

I would recommend waiting at least 3 months for your tissues to heal. However, the best time for surgery will depend on how you're healing and you'll need to be evaluated by a plastic surgeon for this.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Reimplantation after explantation

I'm sorry to hear that you feel you made the wrong decision. Right now, at 1 week post-op, the tissues are inflammed and swollen, and are not optimal for re-do surgery. It's wise to wait until this settles down. Most surgeons would recommend about a 3-6 month time period for this. All the best,

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants

You can have the implants placed anytime now. You are still in the early healing phases and the "pocket" should be able to have an implant placed into it.