Breast Implant Replacement (Revision) Surgery Cost & Guide

What can breast implant replacement surgery achieve?

Any patient with breast implants may want to have them replaced for a variety of reasons. These may include addressing complications like capsular contracture to simply wanting a different size or shape implant.

While cosmetic reasons are often a motivating factor, breast implant replacement can also address other complications, including:

• Lateralisation (implants and breast tissue moving down/away from the middle of the chest)
• Double-bubble (the implant falls below the natural fold at the base of the breast)
• Sagging
• Implant rupture or leak

Patients with PIP implants may also wish to replace their implants with a new and safer option with a lower risk of rupture or leakage.

What is Capsular Contracture?

The body naturally surrounds any implanted foreign object, including breast implants, with fibrous scar tissue. This scar tissue creates a capsule around the implant.

A vast majority of the time, these fibrous capsules comfortably hold the breast implants and cause the patient no problems whatsoever.

Capsular contracture occurs if this capsule begins to constrict. This can happen in one or both breasts, and often the level of constriction is different in each breast.

With more advanced capsular contracture, the pressure placed on the breast implant makes it feel hard.

As the capsule shrinks, the implants tend to distort into a ball shape. This makes the breast look unnaturally round because the implant cannot sit flat against the ribs as they are designed to do. If the constriction continues, the implant can also be ruptured by this force.

If severe capsular contracture develops, it can be painful and uncomfortable for the patient. Patients with severe capsular contracture are faced with the physical pain and emotional discomfort caused by the aesthetic deformity caused by the capsule.

Capsular contracture can also distort natural breast tissue and weaken the fibrous ligaments that support the breast. Ultimately, this may cause sagging.

For patients who want to improve the look of sagging, breast implant replacement surgery can also be combined with a breast lift, also called mastopexy. Combining breast implant replacement with breast lift not only alters the shape and/or size of the breasts it also removes excess skin and places the nipple higher on the breast so they appear lifted and more youthful.

How much does breast implant replacement surgery cost?

Breast Implant Replacement Surgery typically costs between £5,500 and £6,500. Patients may be offered different prices within or in rare cases outside of this price bracket depending on various factors. The personalised price offered will contain no hidden fees, however, and always cover:

• Surgeon and anaesthetist costs
• An overnight stay (if required)
• CQC hospital costs
• Follow-up appointments and aftercare

The specific procedural details are decided on a case-by-case basis. Various details will be discussed during a patient's consultation, after which a personalised procedure price will be agreed upon by considering the patient's wants and the surgeon's recommendations. The price may differ depending on the following factors:

• The hospital or clinic is chosen for the procedure
• Surgeon and/or anaesthetist experience
• The complexity of the specific procedure tailored to the patient's individual wants or needs
• The surgical technique used
• Combined procedures

How is breast implant replacement performed?

Breast implant replacement surgery can last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours.

The more complicated the procedure, the longer it will take. For example, a breast implant replacement that also includes a capsulectomy (removal of the capsule, see below) and a breast lift will take longer than a simple implant replacement surgery.

There are two anaesthesia options for this surgery.

General anaesthetic involves placing the patient into a dreamless sleep with medication. This is usually preferred when the surgeon expects the surgery to be very complex or take longer than an hour.

Local anaesthetic with sedation numbs the area where the surgery is performed. This is a better option for more straightforward and shorter procedures.

Techniques for Breast Implant Replacement

Once anaesthesia is administered, the surgeon makes the incision necessary to remove and replace the breast implants.

This process can be simple if the new implant is similar in size and shape to the old implant. In these cases, the new implants will be placed in the same place in the breast. In this case, the incision will be placed in the same position as the incision from the previous breast enlargement surgery, likely in one of the locations in the diagram below.

The existing implants will be removed, leaving the capsule in place, and the new implants will be placed in the same location.

When the surgeon is happy with the placement, the incisions are closed, and the surgery is ended.

What happens if breast implant replacement surgery is more complex?

The basic flow of the operation will be the same for a complex breast implant replacement surgery.

A complex implant replacement procedure will, however, last longer. It could involve both the implant and capsule being removed from the breast and the implant being placed in a different position, for example, moving from underneath to on top of the muscle.

What to expect from the consultation with a surgeon

Surgeon consultations for breast implant replacement take between 15 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

To decide the best surgery option, they will ask about the following topics:

• Medical history
• Previous surgical history
• Any medical conditions
• Any current medications
• Motivations & expectations regarding breast implant replacement

The surgeon will also examine the breasts and the scars left from previous breast surgeries.

They will also ask about any current or previous complications related to the implants and discuss these in more detail. To ensure breast implant replacement surgery is the best option for the patient, they may request additional tests or scans of the breast implants, including ultrasound or MRI.

Questions to ask during a breast implant replacement consultation

The consultation is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and learn as much as possible about breast implant replacement surgery.

Some good questions to ask the surgeon include:

• Do you think what I want to achieve from surgery is realistic?
• Request to see before and afters
• Would you recommend any additional procedures, such as a breast uplift?
• What will the recovery process involve?
• What technique do you normally use for this procedure?
• Where will the scars be located?
• What shape and size of breast implants would give the best results?

Can breast implant replacement surgery be combined with other surgical procedures?

The two most common procedures combined with breast implant replacement are capsulectomy to treat capsular contracture and breast lift to address sagging.

Depending on the patient's needs, all three procedures (breast implant replacement, capsulectomy and breast lift) can be performed during one surgery to resolve capsular contracture and sagging simultaneously.

Capsulectomy

Capsulectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of a breast implant and fibrous capsule (capsular contracture) that naturally surrounds it.

The incision necessary to remove a breast implant and capsule depend on the severity of the contracture.

Generally, the incision will be made at the inframammary fold, where the breast naturally creases. This incision is larger than the one needed to perform breast enlargement because the implant becomes much less flexible as capsular contracture develops.

Once the capsule has been removed, a new implant can then be inserted into the breast, and the surgery can be completed as usual. Your surgeon may recommend sending the capsule tissue to the laboratory for analysis or decide during surgery that this is necessary if they have any concerns about the appearance of the capsule tissue. The hospital may charge additional fees for this.

Mastopexy (Breast Lift)

If included in a breast implant replacement surgery, a breast lift is performed after the original implant and capsule are removed, and the new implant is placed.

To perform a breast lift, excess skin is removed, and the nipple is placed higher on the breast to create a firmer and lifted look.

The basic procedure for a breast lift is depicted in the diagram below.

What are the general risks and complications?

Every surgery is associated with some level of risk. However, choosing an experienced BAAPS/BAPRAS member surgeon reduces the risk of any complications developing, as does following their pre-and post-operative recommendations exactly.

It is important to be aware of these risks and complications before surgery.

Capsular Contraction

The body naturally surrounds any implanted foreign object, including implants, with fibrous scar tissue. This scar tissue creates a capsule around the implant.

The vast majority of the time, these capsules comfortably hold the breast implants and cause the patient no problems whatsoever.

Capsular contracture occurs if this capsule begins to constrict. This can happen in one or both breasts. If you suspect you may be experiencing capsular contracture, you should seek medical advice from your GP. It can lead to physical pain and emotional discomfort caused by the aesthetic deformity caused by the capsule.

You may be experiencing capsular contracture, if:

• Your breast feel unnaturally hard
• Your breasts develop an unnaturally round shape
• You are experiencing pain and discomfort

Changes in sensation

After breast explant surgery, you may experience an altered sensation across your chest. This breast implant removal complication is more likely to happen to the nipples and incision areas.

This is because nerve connections to the skin or breast tissue may have been damaged during surgery, especially if you have a more invasive procedure such as a breast lift included with your breast explant.

Any change in sensation will more than likely return to normal with time as the nerves heal. It can take several months for this to happen.

However, in very rare cases, nerve damage and loss of sensation can be permanent after breast implant removal.

Other surgical risks and complications:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Blood clots
• Post-operative pain
• Infection (in severe, rare cases this may necessitate temporary removal of the implant)
• Excessive or keloid scarring
• Reaction to anaesthesia
• Nausea and vomiting

The risks and complications associated with breast implant replacement are related to the complexity of the surgery and the risks associated with breast implant surgery generally.

These risks include but are not limited to:

• Unwanted or unexpected aesthetic results (including asymmetry)
• Capsular contracture
• Double bubble (implant sits below the natural crease of the breast)
• Lateralisation (implant moves lower and away from the centre of the chest)
• Sagging
• Seroma (fluid accumulation around the implant)
• Tissue necrosis (loss of tissue e.g. nipple)
• Altered sensation in the nipple, areolae and breast
• Low risk of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)

What to expect after breast implant replacement surgery

It takes time to recover after any surgical procedure. Knowing what to expect will help you to feel prepared for how things will be after the operation. The surgeon will give the patient-specific aftercare instructions, which they should follow closely.

24h after surgery

After the breast implant replacement operation, the patient will return to the ward to recover. During this time, the medical team will monitor them and make sure they are comfortable. If patients have had a general anaesthetic, it may take some time for this to wear off. As a result, they may feel drowsy or sleepy. The medical team will regularly check up and make sure any symptoms such as pain or sickness are well controlled.

Going home after surgery

The length of time patients are required to stay in the hospital will depend on how long the surgery took, any pre-existing medical conditions or if there were any complications during or after the procedure. During the consultation, the surgeon will discuss when they expect the patient to return home. Often this is on the same day as surgery, but some patients will spend up to two days in hospital after a breast implant replacement procedure.

Patients will not be able to drive for some time after the surgery due to the general anaesthetic and post-operative discomfort. It is important that patients follow the specific instructions that your surgeon gives you about driving.

A follow-up appointment will be scheduled for approximately 2 weeks after the breast implant replacement operation. This appointment allows the surgeon to monitor recovery and make sure that the incisions are healing well.

Going back to work

Patients will need to take some time off work to help with recovery. Each individual will feel different after the operation, and some people may take longer to recover. In addition, different jobs are more physically demanding and may require more time off. During the consultation, the surgeon will be able to give specific advice on how much time is needed to take off work.

Compression bra

After having a breast implant revision procedure, the breasts are likely to feel quite sensitive and sore. As a result, the surgeon may advise wearing a supportive bra during the first 2-5 weeks after the breast implant replacement procedure.

Showering and bathing

The surgeon will give you specific instructions regarding showering and washing. Patients may not be able to have a shower or get the treatment area wet for several days after the procedure. Once you can shower again, it’s important to consider that you may find it more difficult to wash, and you may need some help with this.

Exercise and physical activity

How soon you can return to exercise and activities will largely depend on how physically demanding they are. For the first three weeks, it is suggested that you avoid all sport and physical activities and focus solely on your recovery. It is important that you give your body time to heal and recover. During this initial recovery time, aerobic activities can cause swelling and slow down your progress and healing. After the third week, you may be able to do light physical activity, such as cycling. Once it has been six weeks since the operation, you should be able to resume your normal exercise and activities. Again, your surgeon will give you specific timeframes that you should follow.

Scar care

After having your surgery, it is important that you follow your surgeon’s advice on how to care for the surgical wounds and any scars. This will help ensure the best possible cosmetic result from the operation. When it comes to scar care, your surgeon may recommend the following techniques to help reduce scarring:

• Scar massage – starting only after the incision has fully healed and the scab has completely resolved on its own.
• Silicone sheets or scar gels – when the glue/tape from surgery is removed, and the incisions are fully healed, it is recommended to use these for six months to one year.
• Keep your scars out of the sun and use a high factor sunscreen to avoid darkening your scars.

The final results

You must be aware that it may take some time for your breasts to settle fully and for you to see the final results of your surgery.

If you are choosing to increase the size of your implants, your breasts may feel over-enlarged, tight and heavy. This occurs due to post-operative swelling and should resolve with time. Your breasts may also appear tight, too high or unnaturally round before they settle fully. In addition, your nipples may feel numb or overly sensitive for some time. Generally, around 8-12 weeks after the operation, you should be able to see the results of your breast removal surgery. However, it may take up to 2-9 months for this healing process to be fully complete. Your surgeon will be able to give you timeframes specific to your recovery.

Breast implant replacement recovery timeline

It can take some time to recover from breast implant replacement surgery, and every recovery journey is different. You should give your body enough rest as well as the time and opportunity to heal. You will be in some pain after your surgery. Follow our advice, and above all, the advice from your surgeon to ensure the best possible outcome.

Some patients will go home on the day of the procedure; most will stay in the hospital for 1 night; some patients may also stay for 2 nights.

Your surgeon will schedule a follow-up appointment with you within 2 weeks of your breast implant replacement procedure. This allows them to monitor your recovery and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

1 - 4 days

• Sleep upright in bed, supported by pillows to help reduce swelling
• Wear a supportive bra and continue wearing it for around 3 weeks
• Take things easy when you get home
• It is entirely normal to experience some pain in discomfort over these days

5 - 14 days

• Any pain or discomfort should become more manageable, and the swelling will decrease
• You may start driving again, only when you are comfortable
• Slowly begin to increase your mobility while still avoiding physical exercise

After 2 weeks

• You will notice a continued reduction in swelling and bruising
• You should be able to return to work

After 4 weeks

• Begin gently exercising if you wish, but avoid anything too strenuous particularly involving the arms. Press-up type exercises should be absolutely avoided, especially if the implants are under the muscle
• The appearance of your breast continues to improve

6 - 9 months

• Scars will begin to soften and fade

After 9 months, the healing process should be fully complete. However, breasts continue to change in appearance throughout life due to the effects of gravity, aging and weight changes.

Following a breast implant replacement procedure, some everyday tasks or activities may be difficult for some time. Below are some general breast implant replacement surgery tips to help you have the smoothest recovery with the best possible results.

• Do a big food shop for nutritious foods before your surgery.
• Prepare and freeze meals to ensure you do not have to worry about cooking.
• Complete your household chores before the day of your surgery; these tasks may be too strenuous or painful in the days after the breast implant replacement procedure.
• Reorganise your home to ensure any necessary items are within easy reach. This will help you avoid straining and help the healing process.
• You may benefit from finding someone to help take care of young children or pets for the first week following your surgery. This can help you focus your energy on getting better and allow for a quicker recovery.

Please find out more about how to plan for your surgery in our blog.

In some cases, the breasts may appear to be drooping due to complications associated with the implants. If the implants are drooping downwards and pulling on the breast tissue, for example, then a replacement of the implants may resolve the problem.

However, if the drooping is due to excess skin, or weakness of the breast tissue and fibrous ligaments, then other procedures may be more suitable. Your surgeon will discuss these procedures, such as breast uplift surgery, during your consultation.

If you are considering having breast implant replacement surgery, you should first know that every surgery is associated with some level of risk. However, choosing an experienced BAAPS/BAPRAS member surgeon reduced the risk of any complications developing.

Informing yourself properly about breast implant replacement preparation and aftercare and following the advice of your Medbelle surgeon will also help your recovery run as smoothly as possible.

Aside from preexisting medical conditions, there are indeed some factors that you can control which will decrease the chance of a surgical complication.

Smoking and nicotine use

Medbelle surgeons strongly advise that you stop smoking or using any other nicotine products 6 weeks before your surgery. You should continue to abstain from nicotine or smoking for at least 6 weeks after the procedure as well.

Nicotine, which is found in cigarettes and other tobacco products, including many e-cigarettes, naturally reduces blood flow. It is known as a vasoconstrictor.

Limiting the blood flow of any tissue during surgery increases the likelihood of complications like tissue necrosis and infection. It can even increase the time it takes you to recover from a breast implant replacement procedure.

Find out more about why Medbelle surgeons recommend stopping smoking for surgery.

General surgical risks and complications include:

• Blood clots
• Anaesthetic risks
• Allergic reaction to a surgical component (i.e. medical tape)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain

Your surgeon and their medical team will do everything possible to prevent any breast implant replacement complications from developing. You may be given medication to thin your blood, control your pain or ease nausea. You may also be given compression socks or a compression bra to wear after surgery.

Infection

An infection can develop after any surgery. An infection will become apparent in the first 2 to 3 weeks of your recovery from breast explant.

You should contact your surgeon at the first sign of infection. The following symptoms may indicate an infection:

• A temperature above 38° C
• Redness surrounding your incision that begins to grow and spread out
• Any foul-smelling fluid coming from a surgical wound
• Pain or discomfort that isn’t controlled with painkillers

All infections should be assessed and treated. If you act fast and take the right steps to prevent the infection from worsening, it will most likely remain mild and easily treated by antibiotics.

Left unchecked, infections can seriously impact your health and the outcome of your breast implant replacement surgery.

Disappointment with your results

The vast majority of patients are very happy with their results after breast implant replacement surgery. Some, however, may be unhappy with the aesthetic results or regret having surgery.

Choosing an experienced BAAPS/BAPRAS member surgeon for your breast implant replacement surgery will help reduce this risk.

Think carefully before electing to have any cosmetic surgical procedure and try to envisage exactly how you want your breasts to look. If you follow your Medbelle surgeon’s aftercare instructions carefully, it can also help to achieve the best possible results.

Capsular Contraction

The body naturally surrounds any implanted foreign object, including implants, with fibrous scar tissue. This scar tissue creates a capsule around the implant.

The vast majority of the time, these capsules comfortably hold the breast implants and cause the patient no problems whatsoever.

Capsular contracture occurs if this capsule begins to constrict. This can happen in one or both breasts. If you suspect you may be experiencing capsular contracture, you should seek medical advice from your GP. It can lead to physical pain and also emotional discomfort caused by the aesthetic deformity caused by the capsule

You may be experiencing capsular contracture, if:

• Your breast feel unnaturally hard
• Your breasts develop an unnaturally round shape
• You are experiencing pain and discomfort

Changes in sensation

After breast explant surgery, you may experience an altered sensation across your chest. This breast implant removal complication is more likely to happen to the nipples and incision areas.

This is because nerve connections to the skin or breast tissue may have been damaged during surgery, especially if you have a more invasive procedure such as a breast lift included with your breast explant.

Any change in sensation will more than likely return to normal with time as the nerves heal. It can take several months for this to happen.

In rare cases, however, nerve damage and loss of sensation can be permanent after breast implant removal.

Other risks and complications associated with breast implant replacement surgery

• Lateralisation
• Double-bubble
• Gravity effect

It is understandable to be worried if you have PIP implants. These were the implants that were made in France with an unapproved silicone gel which made the implants more prone to leakage and rupture. If you know that you have these implants we would advise you to speak to the clinic where you had the breast implant surgery done and seek advice from your GP. You can also read more about PIP Implants too

Although the implants are more prone to rupture they have not been found to be damaging to general health. Therefore, replacing the PIP implants is often a personal choice made alongside a healthcare professional. If you do choose to keep the implants you should make yourself aware of the symptoms of a rupture. Equally, it is advised that you have an annual check-up with a doctor to ensure you are not suffering from any complications.

Sometimes patients may be slightly unhappy with the results of implant surgery soon after the operation. This is because it takes time for the breast tissue to settle and the bruising and swelling to go down. It can take up to six months before you will be able to see the final results. Therefore, it is recommended that you wait at least six months after having implant surgery before making decisions about having a breast implant replacement procedure for cosmetic reasons.

It is also recommended that you get your implants checked by a specialist at least every 8-10 years, in case your implants do need replacing.

All of the information found on our website is sourced from highly reputable experts, government-approved authorities and is widely used by healthcare professionals.

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/breast-enlargement/ NHS
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pip-implants/ NHS
• https://baaps.org.uk/patients/procedures/1/breast_augmentation British Association Of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
• https://www.bapras.org.uk/public/patient-information/surgery-guides/breast-enlargement British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
• https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient-care/cosmetic-surgery/about-your-procedure/breast-enlargement/ Royal College of Surgeons England

Our content is written by our Medical Quality Managers and Patient Care Advisers, all of who have medical backgrounds and training. Prior to publishing, all the information is reviewed by a surgeon specialised within the relevant field.