Paying to Replace Leaking Implants

asked 1 year ago by 46 yrs young & lopsided in OR
Latest answer by Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Question viewed 416 times
Tags: fees, replacement, warranty

live in oregon and i received saline implants 8 yrs ago.i have always had an itch on that side in the same place,right side saline has leaked completely out.my surgeon said it would be the same price as when i got the first ones,but its not my fault.the manuf.is covering $1200.00 for the implant its self. why doesn't my surgeon/dr.take some of the responsibility he is the one that put them in.how do we know its not dr's fault?no pics lft side 34 c/rt 34 a! please help lopsided at 46 yrs young.

6 answers to Paying to Replace Leaking Implants

Who pays for leaking saline breast implant 8 years post-op?

Certainly it is upsetting to have a saline breast implant deflate; that is just one of the reasons that most of my patients now (since November 2006) choose to have the latest-generation cohesive silicone gel implants used for their breast augmentation. But you had your implants placed 8 years ago, when the FDA did not allow use of silicone gel implants for first-time elective breast enlargement patients. The manufacturer does provide free lifetime replacement for their implants (both... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Deflation of a Saline Implants

Eventually, all saline implants will deflate requiring replacement. There is no one at fault here not you, not your surgeon and not the manufacturer. You should have known from the get go that your implants would need to be replaced at some time down the road. The implant company offers a very nice warranty. Surgeons do not normally offer to replace deflated implants at no cost. The patient understands from the start that there will be additional costs if the implants deflate. more

Todd B. Koch, MD
Buffalo Plastic Surgeon

Implants leaked after eight years

A doctor has no specific responsibility for an implant that ruptured as in your case. I know that it is upsetting to have a ruptured implant, but it can be fixed.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Cost For Replacing Leaking or Ruptured Implants

This is a question which should be addressed at the time of your initial consultation as there is a lack of uniformity. Your surgeon really bears no blame for the implants leaking unless it happens immediately due to needle tear, etc. I personally do not charge for replacing implants which I placed originally, but other surgeons in my practice do.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Revision costs vary

Surgical cost vary from doctor to doctor and ussully include a professional fee, anesthesia fee, facility fee, and implant charges. The implant warranty will cover a portion of the cost to repalce the leaking implant. If this event occured 8 years after your initial surgery it would be hard to assume that the implant leaked because of something that the doctor did. Both saline and siliocne implants can leak over time. At this point the leaking implant needs to be... more

Jeremy Waldman, MD
Manchester Plastic Surgeon

Replacement of deflated saline breast implants

Breast implants have a warranty for the first ten years which covers the implant and a portion of the anesthesia and operating room costs. 1200 is the reimbursement for one implant, however the total cost to you should not typically be the same as when you originally had the surgery. This varies from surgeon to surgeon. Usually the cost is less overall but this depends on the facility fee and anesthesia fee. You can probably have one saline implant replaced for... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question

Get Free Email Updates