Breast implant exchange or removal is a secondary surgical procedure designed to remove, repair, or replace implants after breast augmentation.
However, most women do not consider the possibility of removing or replacing their implants when they undergo breast enhancement surgery. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction or complications with the implants can develop at any time. The only way to correct these concerns involves the removal and/or replacement of the implants.
Dr. Goldschmidt offers breast implant exchange or removal for patients in Independence or Cleveland, Ohio.
Are You a Candidate for Breast Implant Exchange or Removal?
Good candidates are women who are considering breast implant exchange or removal who do not smoke, are in good overall health, have no previous medical conditions that can affect healing, and have realistic expectations of their results.
Dr. Goldschmidt performs breast implant exchange or removal after implant-related issues. You may be a candidate for breast revision if you are experiencing complications or are displeased by the appearance of your breasts. Capsular contracture and infection are two of the most common reasons for implant-based breast revision. If you are suffering from either of these conditions, replacing or removing the implants remains an elective procedure. However, in the case of a rupture, removing the damaged implant is often mandatory for your well-being and health.
What Are the Benefits of Breast Implant Exchange or Removal?
Breast implant exchange or removal is performed on women to:
- Enhance aesthetics
- Improve comfort
- Restore natural breasts
- Bring peace of mind
To see if you are a candidate for breast implant exchange or removal, please call Dr. Goldschmidt at The Cosmetic Surgery Center at (216) 350-3175 to set up a consultation.
What Are the Reasons for Breast Implant Exchange or Removal?
Women consider breast implant exchange or replacement for several reasons. A few of these include:
Implant Related Issues
Implant problems may require breast implant removal. This could result in aesthetic distortion and may occasionally contribute to physical discomfort.
Common problems include:
- Capsular contracture: An implant issue that occurs when the scar tissue around the implant contracts and squeezes the breast implant. This may cause aesthetic deformity and/or physical pain.
- Implant rupture: This occurs when the shell of the implant weakens and tears. This may result in an unaesthetic appearance or a capsular contracture.
- Implant displacement: This occurs when the implant moves out of position and may lead to an unattractive appearance.
Aesthetic Preference
Not every woman is pleased with the appearance of her augmented breasts. Breast implant exchange allows women to exchange their implants for larger or smaller ones, or lets women remove their implants entirely for more natural breasts.
How Is Breast Implant Exchange or Removal Performed?
Dr. Goldschmidt performs breast implant exchange or removal under general or twilight anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Therefore, because of this, women must have someone present to drive them home and stay with them for the first night.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, Dr. Goldschmidt will make an incision along the breast crease and remove the implant. Depending on the situation, he may remove the implants with all or part of the capsule. This is known as an en bloc breast implant removal.
Breast Implant Removal and Replacement
Following the implant’s removal, Dr. Goldschmidt can insert a new implant into the same breast pocket. Additionally, he can place it in a new position based on the situation.
Breast implant removal and replacement are popular among women who experienced implant complications or are displeased with the current implants’ size.
The patient can choose replicas of their original implant or a different size or type.
Permanent Breast Implant Removal
Some women choose breast implants initially but decide later on that they are not pleased with the look or feel of augmented breasts. This tends to be rather uncommon.
Thus, women can permanently part ways with their breast implants if they wish to return to a more natural appearance.
After Dr. Goldschmidt removes the implant, he eliminates the breast pocket where the implant sat before closing the incisions.
Breast Implant Removal and Breast Lift
Women who choose to remove large implants or years old implants often experience significant breast sagging that only a breast lift can correct.
Breast lift surgery addresses sagging breasts by tightening the glandular tissue and trimming the excess skin on the breast. This process tightens and elevates the breast tissue and restores a youthful, perky breast contour.
The specifics of your breast lift surgery will depend on the extent of breast sagging. Incision options for breast lift surgery include:
- Periareolar: Two concentric incisions circle the areola.
- Lollipop: An incision circles the areola and extends vertically down the lower pole of the breast.
- Anchor: A lollipop incision is extended to include a horizontal incision across the breast crease.
What Can I Expect for My Breast Implant Exchange or Removal Recovery?
Patients will notice their breasts wrapped in a compression garment following breast implant replacement or removal. This occurs regardless of whether Dr. Goldschmidt inserted new breast implants or not..
Recovering from a breast implant replacement or removal will likely appear similar to your initial breast augmentation. Patients may experience swelling, bruising, or soreness on or around the chest. The compression garment will help reduce the swelling as it promotes blood circulation. Patients can lessen the pain with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication.
Most women return to their usual routines—including work—after one to two weeks. However, the recovery time frame will depend on the type of work you do and how strenuous it is in nature.
You should avoid any lifting or strenuous exercise for at least four to six weeks.
When Will I See My Breast Implant Exchange or Removal Results?
Patients often notice the results of their breast implant replacement or removal immediately following the procedure. These results may continue to change slightly over the following weeks and months as the swelling dissipates, and the new implants settle into place (if Dr. Goldschmidt replaced the implants).
Patients can expect permanent results from their breast implant removal or exchange as long as there are no additional implant-related concerns, they maintain a stable weight, and they avoid additional pregnancies.
How Much Does Breast Implant Exchange or Removal Cost?
Breast implant exchange or removal is a highly customized procedure. Thus, we cannot provide a cost estimate before you consult with Dr. Goldschmidt.
The cost of your breast implant exchange or removal will vary depending on replacement implants, the techniques required, anesthesia, facility fees, surgeon’s fees, pre-surgical tests, and post-surgical dressings.
Patients will receive an accurate cost estimate at the consultation appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my consultation for my breast implant exchange or removal include?
A consultation is an essential aspect of your breast implant exchange or removal process. During this meeting with Dr. Goldschmidt, you will discuss your goals and wishes for the procedure, and he will examine your implants, take measurements and photos, and design a customized breast revision plan depending on your needs.
What are the risks of breast implant exchange or removal?
As with any invasive cosmetic surgery, there is the risk of complications after breast implant exchange or removal. These complications include:
- Negative reactions to the anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Prolonged healing
- Unfavorable scarring
- Temporary or permanent changes to skin or nipple sensation
- Breast asymmetry
Will I have additional scarring after my implant exchange or removal?
If possible, Dr. Goldschmidt will remove your implants through the initial breast augmentation incision. However, if the surgeon placed the original implants through an areola or armpit incision, Dr. Goldschmidt may create an additional incision (or longer incision) along the breast crease (inframammary fold). Dr. Goldschmidt will do all he can to keep the incision close to the initial incision as possible to minimize any additional scarring. All resulting scars will fade with time.
Can I replace my implants down the line?
Yes. Some women feel unsure about their implants after experiencing implant-related complications or weight fluctuations. Even if you decide not to replace your implants after breast implant removal, you can add them back later. Additional breast surgery may become more complicated later in life because of more scar tissue. However, it is usually possible.
When do I have to exchange my implants after my initial breast augmentation?
Your breast implants’ lifespan will depend significantly on your age, size of the implants, natural breast and chest tissue anatomy, deformities, previous surgeries, and more. For some of the longest-lasting implants, patients use them for up to 20 or 25 years, although this is uncommon. Even when the breast implants have survived for this long, it is still recommended to replace them to deter any droopiness or asymmetry that may occur naturally over time. Typically, patients should consult with their surgeon as soon as they start noticing differences in their breasts, such as fluctuations in swelling or inflammation.
How long do breast implant exchanges take?
Most breast implant exchanges take between two and four hours to complete. This is often quicker than initial breast implant surgeries because a surgeon already formed the pocket in which the implant will sit. Any additional time is usually reserved for combination breast lifts, which Dr. Goldschmidt often performed with breast implant exchanges to combat breast sagging that developed since last getting breast implants.
Can I work out with breast implants?
Depending on the implant placement and material of the implant, it is possible for implants to move out of place because of consistent pressure on the chest muscle before it heals. For very athletic women (such as weightlifters and bodybuilders), there are pros and cons to getting implants. Therefore, if these women receive implants, they may have more limited implant placement options. You should make your surgeon aware of your goals and the activities you wish to do after your implant surgery. This way, they can work with you to adjust the technique, placement, and texture choice accordingly.
Why should you wait to have a breast implant exchange after pregnancy?
Breast implants typically do not impair a woman’s ability to breastfeed properly. However, breast implants can make breastfeeding more difficult if the original incisions made contact with the milk ducts located within the breasts. Nonetheless, if a woman wishes to have her breast implants removed or exchanged before or during her pregnancy, Dr. Goldschmidt will likely recommend waiting until after her pregnancy, as further incisions will require healing, increase risk, and prevent breastfeeding entirely.
If a major complication occurs with the breast implant, such as breakage or leaking, immediate removal should occur after meeting with a qualified provider.
What is nipple correction? Can I include it in my breast implant exchange?
You can choose to include a nipple correction in your breast implant exchange. This can correct nipples that may appear to have a hole in the middle or a deep crease that runs across the center. Replacing breast implants can also help correct stretched or enlarged areolas because of the previous breast implants. This ensures that your nipples look more symmetrical and normally shaped after breast revision surgery in Cleveland.
Are You Interested in Breast Implant Exchange or Removal in Independence, Ohio?
If you are interested in learning more about breast implant exchange or removal or want to find breast revision near you, contact Dr. Matt Goldschmidt, MD, FACS, by filling out our online contact form. Additionally, you can also call (216) 350-3175. Dr. Goldschmidt performs breast implant revision for patients in Independence, Ohio, and the greater Cleveland area.
For more information about Breast Implant Exchange or Removal in Cleveland, OH or to schedule your Breast Implant Exchange or Removal in Cleveland, OH consultation with Dr. Matt Goldschmidt, please call (216) 350-3175.