Breast implant ruptured. Is it realistic to get them removed and replaced all at once?

Hello !

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds like you have a ruptured saline breast implant that needs to be replaced. It's good that you've contacted your insurance company and that they have confirmed that the removal of the implants is considered medically necessary and would be covered, pending an appropriately worded pre-authorization from your surgeon.

Regarding your question about replacing the implants, it's important to discuss this with your surgeon. They will be able to advise you on the best course of action based on your individual circumstances. In general, if both implants are ruptured or need to be replaced for other reasons, it is possible to replace them at the same time. This can save you time and money compared to having two separate surgeries. However, there are some factors to consider, such as the condition of your breast tissue and the size and type of implants you want.

It's also important to note that the cost of the surgery itself may not be fully covered by your insurance, even if the removal and replacement of the implants are covered. You should talk to your surgeon's office and your insurance company to understand what costs will be covered and what you will be responsible for.

In summary, it's best to talk to your surgeon about the best course of action for replacing your implants and to discuss the costs with both your surgeon and your insurance company.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Dear sallyfaye1021,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, it is possible to remove and replace breast implants in one sitting. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Yes. When saline implants fail, they are typically removed and replaced at the same operative setting. Although some insurance companies will cover the cost of implant removal, they generally do not cover implant replacement.

If you are planning to replace your implants, then you should do it ASAP. The longer you wait, the capsule (scar tissue around the implant) can shrink, and then it is harder to stretch it out during the surgery. Then one side may not look like the other. If you have surgery soon, before the capsule shrinks, then it is a much easier and predictable surgery and recovery. I would highly suggest doing the removal and replacement in 1 surgery. Your ruptured implant will likely be replaced by the implant company under the warranty, so check with your surgeon about that. Insurance companies don't always cover removal of implants that were placed for cosmetic purposes if you are planning to replace them, so check with your surgeon to get his/her opinion. Best of luck!

It is best to remove the implants and replace them at the same time. You will more than likely need a simultaneous lift.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear Sally, Removing and replacing your implants in one setting is possible. It's done all the time. Now, whether your insurance helps or not is a different story. Most implant companies have a lifetime replacement of the implant itself but do not cover surgical costs.

This is very typical. Your insurance may pay for removal but not replacement. This can all be done at one setting but you need to realized that there still be significant out of pocket expenses. Try not to have this done at a hospital to avoid an outrageous bill later

Thank you for your question. I would need to examine you in person to best answer your question. However, it is generally possible to remove your ruptured implant and place a new one at the same surgery. As you mentioned, your insurance may not cover the entire cost of this surgery, so I would speak with your surgeon to get an estimate of how much it may cost. I do not recommend waiting too long, as your left breast can contract around the ruptured implant. Depending on the appearance of your right breast, you may benefit from having both implants replaced at the same time to achieve optimal symmetry, though your insurance would likely not cover the surgery on the right breast. I recommend meeting with a fully-trained plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns.

Since the average life span of saline implants is 10-20 years, and yours are 27 years old, I would suggest replacing both at the same time. Otherwise, you may be back soon to replace the opposite side with another surgery.

The short answer is that re-augmentation is possible. The important question is how long ago did the rupture occur? Following rupture of saline implants the breast will be come completely deflated. This can lead to symmetry issues when re-augmentation is performed because the interim (i.e., during the time between rupture and re-augmentation) the deflated breast will begin to shrink and the breast tissues will contract. This is a problem because when re-augmentation is performed the breast pocket will need to be re-opened but more importantly because the breast tissues have shrunk this breast will be smaller than the contralateral breast at re-augmentation. There are some ways to treat and avoid this:1. Perform re-augmentation as soon as possible following deflation (waiting longer than 2-3 weeks can impact results)2. Deflate the contralateral breast implant, wait at least 2-3 weeks for that breast tissue to shrink/contract and then perform bilateral re-augmentation3. Use a larger implant on the deflated side: not even with this the breasts are unlikely to be perfectly symmetric and will require at a minimum aggressive massage.Hope the above helps!