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Breast Implant Revision
What's Involved in Replacing Old Implants with Bigger, New Ones?
Replacing existing breast implants with larger sizes is occasionally requested in our San Francisco Bay Area practice and the surgery is similar to the original procedure. Replacement implant size can be increased, decreased, or remain the same depending on the goals of the individual. Saline implants may be exchanged for either silicone or saline implants and silicone implants may be exchanged for either saline or silicone implants. Implants placed above the muscle may be replaced above or below the muscle (generally below). If present, capsular contracture (hardening of the tissue around the implant) can be corrected during the same procedure. Additionally the recovery period for breast implant exchange is generally faster and easier on patients than the original surgery. For additional information on breast implant exchange please visit the office of a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Clinical Context
When implants are exchanged for larger ones, the existing pocket and skin need to stretch to comfortably hold the new implant. Surgeons sometimes score or release part of the surrounding capsule to create more room. If the skin or tissue is thin, blood supply can limit how much larger the new implant can safely be in one procedure. This is why capsule condition and implant position, not just size, guide surgical planning.
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