Implant Removal and Reaugmentation

Other NameRemoval Reaug

MYA Patient Satisfaction96%

Procedure Time1 - 2 hours

Hospital Stay1 night or day case

Back To Work1 week

Recovery Time6 weeks

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breast procedures /
Implant Removal and Reaugmentation

Procedure Overview

A breast implant removal and reaugmentation is a surgical procedure in which a patient’s current implants are removed along with any internal scar tissue, the pocket is repaired, and the new implants are placed. This is usually carried out through the original incision to minimise scarring.

Implants do not have a sell-by date and therefore do not require replacing every 10 – 20 years as some people currently believe. Reasons why patients would want to undergo breast implant removal and replace their implants include:

To increase or decrease the size of the breasts
Breast appearance has changed following child birth or weight loss
Breast appearance has changed following weight loss
Breast appearance has changed with age. With age skin can weaken and gravity takes its toll resulting in a less desirable look

A breast implant removal procedure is low risk, but like any procedure there are still risks involved. One risk associated with breast enlargements is capsular contracture, or capsulation. This is the hardening of scar tissue around the implant, which can result in needing a removal and re-augmentation. Capsulation is covered as part of MYA’s aftercare and affects less than 1% of patients.

Removal and re-augmentation patients are advised to take 1 week off work and refrain from physical activities for 6 – 8 weeks post op. During this time, patients will also be required to wear a post-op bra. All post-op instructions will be very similar to your initial procedure so you are somewhat prepared as to what to expect.

*Patient Satisfaction taken from PHIN.org.uk (Private Healthcare Information Network)

*There is no guarantee of specific outcomes so individual results and experiences can vary from person to person.

BREAST REAUGMENTATION SURGERY

Day Of Surgery

You will be admitted to hospital on the day of surgery and often be discharged the same day. Please be aware that you will not be taken to surgery straight away and you can have a wait of up to 6 hours. Please speak to the hospital staff on the day for updates on your operation time. Once you have returned from your operation, your chest will feel tight and your breasts and ribs below your breasts will be tender. It is important to focus on your breast implant removal recovery. You should be mobile from day one and can exercise after 6 weeks.

Anaesthesia

Your surgery will be performed under General Anaesthetic (GA). Breast implant removal under local anaesthesia is uncommon. General Anaesthetic stops you feeling pain and other sensations; it gives you a state of controlled unconsciousness (being asleep).

The anaesthetist, who has had specialist training, will start the anaesthetic by inserting a needle which is used to put a cannula (small thin plastic tube) into a vein in the back of your hand or arm – it will take about 30 seconds to work. If you’re worried about having a needle in your hand, you can speak to your anaesthetist about this prior to surgery and check out breast implant removal reviews.

Surgery

Your Surgeon will make a small (typically between 2-3 inches) incision in the crease of your breast. They will try and make the incision along your original scar line to remove your current implants. They will then insert the new implants either in front of the muscle, between, or underneath, depending on your initial discussions with the Surgeon and your previous implant placement. The incision will be closed with either dissolvable or non-dissolvable sutures, depending on your Surgeon.

All MYA Surgeons are highly experienced with full medical insurance and only perform Cosmetic Surgery. They are therefore highly skilled in this field and they will be able to make appropriate recommendations regarding the placement of your implant.

BREAST REAUGMENTATION RECOVERY

Immediate Recovery

After surgery, you will be taken to your room where a nurse will routinely monitor you as you start to fully wake up from the anaesthetic. Your nurse will offer you tea and toast and it will take a final 3-4 hours until you are ready to leave if you are a day case. Most patients prefer to stay in our hospital overnight as this gives them an opportunity to recover from the surgery in a safe environment and under the supervision of our nurses who specialise in cosmetic surgery.

How Long Does It Take To Recover From Breast Augmentation?

Every woman’s breast implant removal and re-augmentation recovery time is different. In general, you will probably feel a little sore and some swelling after breast augmentation surgery, which will subside after 7-14 days. Pain relief will be prescribed and administered as required to ease any discomfort you may have. You will likely have bruising and swelling that usually lasts 7-21 days, this is normal following all operations.

At first your breasts may look too high and the skin appears tight. This tends to settle down over the first 6 weeks or so as a more natural shape emerges. It is extremely important that your wounds are checked post-operatively by a nurse; this is to ensure the wound is healing well. It is very important that you attend all your breast re-augmentation post-op appointments; it is equally important to ensure you follow all instructions provided to you to ensure you have the best opportunity to achieve the result desired by you and your surgeon.

Post-operative Care

It is very important that you attend your post-operative appointments with all MYA medical professionals; it is also equally important to ensure you follow all instructions provided to you to ensure you have the best opportunity to achieve the result desired by you and your surgeon. Failure to follow this guidance may compromise your result and your surgeon may decide they are unable to carry out revision surgery in these instances.

IMPLANT REMOVAL & REAUGMENTATION GUIDES

If you’re looking for more information, download our helpful Implant removal & reaugmentation guides. These can help you on What Questions to Ask Your Surgeon, Assessing Your Breast Shape, How to Prepare for Surgery and understand Why MYA are Best at Breasts. Download now and have them with you at all times!

MYA are the world’s most patient-focused cosmetic surgery, offering a wide variety of breast procedures, from breast uplifts to breast enlargements. Click here for more information on what we offer and to view our full list of procedures.

*There is no guarantee of specific outcomes so individual results and experiences can vary from person to person.

Before & After

Here is a small selection of some of MYA's breast implant removal and re-augmentation. When you come in for a consultation, your Patient Coordinator will scan our archive and find before and after photos that better match your current and desired implant size. Previous procedures not with MYA

Before

After

With 550cc implants

Are MYA implants high quality?

MYA uses only the highest quality breast implants that abide by strict regulations and quality standards. This is why we only trust Mentor, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, with over 40 years of experience in making breast implants. Made with medical grade silicone gel, they have a soft and fluid consistency – mimicking the feel of a real breast. Mentor has an extensive range of implants, including over 1,000 shapes (both round and anatomical teardrop) and sizes (from 100cc to 850cc). We’re confident you’ll be able to find an implant that best matches your expectations and surgeon’s recommendations. If you’d like to learn more about our Mentor implants, click here.

Are breast implants safe?

Yes, breast implants are safe. We use Mentor, which are silicone gel implants; they have 4 layers of shell so there is no risk of leaking. Due to the surface and texture of how Mentor implants are made, there is less risk of capsulation and a low risk of rupture.

Does breast re-augmentation leave a scar?

Breast reaugmentation usually uses the original incision created during the breast enlargement process. Please note that the scar can also migrate following surgery as the implants settle which means that the scar is not always guaranteed to fall within the natural breast crease. The rate and extent to which the scars heal and fade are variable and differ from individual to individual. Very rarely, a scar does not heal as expected.

Do breast implants need to be replaced?

The length of time a breast implant lasts is unknown and may vary from individual to individual. The Medical Devices Agency has recommended that implants are replaced every 10-15 years or at least visit your surgeon for an assessment during this time.

Can I have a breast implant removal without replacement?

Breast implant removal without replacement is an option if you do not want to have new implants in place of your old ones. Your surgeon will be able to best advise what the likely result will look like.

Why would you need your breast implants replacing?

Typically, patients will have their implants in for around 10 years and then opt for an implant removal and re-augmentation procedure. This will normally be due to the natural changes that the female body undergoes during this time. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss and the natural ageing of skin can mean that breasts could change in shape and size, meaning that implants no longer sit on the chest wall as they once did. There are instances of patients having their implants in for 30 years so it really does depend on your own body.

Does breast re-augmentation affect breastfeeding?

Breast implants will not normally prevent breastfeeding but may adversely affect the shape of the breast as may pregnancy itself. Women should expect physical changes to their bodies that could affect the aesthetic results of surgery and in some cases, it is advised that patients wait until after completion of their family or have achieved their optimum weight before surgery.

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