Breast Implant Replacement Price and Procedure Guide

How Often Should Breast Implants Be Replaced?

The expected life of a saline or silicone breast implant can range from 10 to 20 years. However, many women have them removed sooner due to complications — such as those mentioned above — or a desire for cosmetic improvement.⁴

Signs your breast implants may need revision or replacement

Signs that it's time for a breast implant revision surgery can include:²

• Pain or discomfort. Sometimes, breast implants can cause pain from such conditions as capsular contracture (scar tissue), damaged lymph nodes, a seroma (fluid buildup), pinched nerves or even simply improper implant placement.
• Implant rupture. Traumatic events, such as a car accident or injury, can cause an implant to rupture — particularly a saline implant. To prevent infection and keep the shape of the breast, revision surgery may be necessary.
• Bottoming out of an implant. In some women, particularly those with larger breasts, and sometimes as a result of aging, when the skin and tissue cannot support the breast implant, an implant can fall below the breast crease or bottom out.
• Movement or rotation of an implant. In rare cases, an implant can shift, particularly if the implant pocket is too big. This is called implant displacement and requires revision. Additionally, symmastia — a condition where implants merge in the middle of the chest — can occur when too much tissue is removed near the breastbone, causing muscle detachment.
• Change in implant shape. Age and gravity can occasionally cause one breast implant to change shape, making the breasts look different from one another.
• Capsular contraction. In some cases, the body reacts to the breast implant as a foreign object and creates excessive scar tissue around it, known as capsular contracture.
• Displeasure with the shape of breasts. If, for any reason, a woman does not like how her implants look, she may choose a revision.

How Does Breast Implant Replacement/Revision Work?

Consultation

Before you have a breast implant replacement or revision, you'll have a consultation with your surgeon. Your surgeon will assess your surgical goals, your physical health and medical conditions and any medications you take. They'll examine and photograph your existing breast implants and discuss the options, potential complications and likely outcomes of your surgery.¹

Preparation

Once your surgery is scheduled, if your surgeon feels it's necessary, you may have to get lab tests such as blood work or implant imaging such as a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI. Your medications may be adjusted or new ones added. You may be advised to avoid anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as other herbal supplements. You may also be advised to stop smoking.¹

Procedure

Like any surgery, your breast implant revision or replacement will most likely be performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery clinic, under general anesthesia. You will need someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.¹

Anesthesia

You will be hooked up to an IV, where you will receive general anesthesia that puts you to sleep so you don't feel any pain. General anesthesia can take more recovery time than intravenous anesthesia.¹

Incisions

Your surgeon will discuss with you what type of incision they plan to use for your surgery. Some possibilities include:¹

• Inframammary incision. This is an incision made in the crease under the breast.
• Breast lift incision. This is either a vertical incision or a Wise-pattern incision (an inverted T).⁵
• Periareolar incision. This incision runs part way or all the way around an areola.

After the breast implant has been removed or replaced, your surgeon will close your incision with sutures, skin adhesive or tape.¹

Recovery

It's normal for there to be swelling after surgery. Until the swelling goes down — which can take up to six weeks — it may be difficult to see the initial results. Sometimes, true results won't be known for as long as six to 12 months.¹

After surgery, you can expect to have gauze bandages or dressings on your incisions, and this may affect the kind of support bra you can wear as you heal. In some cases, you may require a small, thin tube to be placed temporarily under the skin to drain excess blood or fluid. Be sure to get clear instructions from your surgeon on how to care for your incision site and when to follow up.¹

Swelling and pain are normal, though your surgeon will discuss pain management options with you. However, signs of concern include:¹

• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual heartbeats

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends asking your surgeon the following questions:¹

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Will there be drains? For how long?
• When can I bathe or shower?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

Potential Complications and Side Effects

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, some of the possible side effects of implant replacement and revision are as follows:¹

• Adverse anesthesia reaction
• Asymmetry
• Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) or other very rare cancers in the capsule around the breast, such as breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC)
• Bleeding
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• Hematoma
• Infection
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Persistent pain
• Poor healing of incisions
• Recurrent looseness of skin
• Skin loss
• Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
• Suboptimal aesthetic result
• Unfavorable scarring

Financing Breast Implant Replacement or Revision Surgery With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for breast implant replacement or revision surgery and related expenses not covered by health insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GOBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, PayPal, The Washington Post and more.