What if you want to exchange your breast implants for smaller ones?
Breast implant exchange Sydney Kogarah
Women may choose breast implant exchange for a number of different reasons. Some women choose this procedure because they’ve experienced a problem with their implants, such as an implant rupture, capsular contracture (a tightening of the scar tissue around the implant), or a changed position of the implant. While they’re relatively rare, these problems certainly can occur.
However, another reason that many women choose to replace their breast implants is because their desires for their body have changed. The modern aesthetic tends to prefer smaller breasts over very large ones, and plastic surgeons are seeing many women who want to replace their larger breast implants with a smaller size.
What’s involved in this surgery? Is there anything that you need to consider when you’re replacing your implants?
Breast implant exchange is usually a relatively simple procedure
As long as there are no problems with the implants or the scar tissue around them, breast implant exchange is generally a relatively simple procedure. Often, the incisions can be placed in the same location where they were initially made during your breast augmentation, so that you won’t have any new scars. (There are some situations where this may not be possible; you will need to discuss it with your plastic surgeon to be sure.)
The surgeon will open up the capsule of scar tissue and remove the old implant from inside. As long as it hasn’t ruptured, this is usually very easy to do. The new implants can then be placed inside, and the incisions closed. The surgery is generally much faster than the original breast augmentation procedure, and the recovery is easier.
You may also need a breast lift
Although the implant exchange itself is often relatively easy, there may be an additional complication when replacing implants with new ones that are significantly smaller. When breast implants are placed, the skin and other tissues overlying the implant will stretch and grow in order to accommodate the implant. If a smaller implant is then placed, these tissues usually won’t fully rebound on their own. The patient will be left with excess sagging skin, which leads to a drooping breast.
To remedy this issue, a breast lift may be needed along with the placement of the smaller implants. Your surgeon will remove excess sagging skin and tighten the remaining tissue to create a pleasing contour for the breast with its new implant. Although this does leave additional scars, the overall result will generally be better than if the excess sagging skin were simply left in place.
This issue won’t come up if the implants are replaced with new ones that are the same size; the procedure is generally straightforward. When women choose to replace their implants with larger ones, the skin and other tissues will adjust to the new implants without the need for an additional procedure. The need to consider a breast lift is specific to the situation where the new implants are smaller than the old ones.
Breast implant exchange Sydney Kogarah
If you’re not satisfied with the current size and shape of your breasts, then you may be considering exchanging your implants. To learn more about what would be involved with the breast implant exchange procedure in your case, we invite you to book a consultation with A/Prof Marucci. As an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, A/Prof Marucci is highly regarded for his technical skills, and stays up to date on the latest plastic surgery techniques in order to get the best results for his patients. To schedule your appointment, simply contact our office.
