🧑‍⚕️ New Patients Save 50% on their Consultation! 💰 Limited-Time Offer. ⏰ T&C’s Apply.  ✨ Call Now!

Breast Implant Replacement Sydney

Your complete guide and quick links to everything you want to know about Breast Implant Replacement in Sydney! ​

When Do Breast Implants Need To Be Replaced?

Breast implants are not lifetime devices and will eventually need to be replaced or removed.  Most implants last around 10 years, but some last considerably longer. While many women without any implant problems choose to leave their implants in for 10-15 years, replacement of one or both implants is sometimes required earlier if complications arise, or if a woman simply wishes to change the size or appearance of her breasts.

Reasons For Breast Implant Replacement

There are various reasons as to why women request a breast implant replacement. They include:

  1. Implant complications such as rupture, leakage, deflation, capsular contracture, displacement, ‘bottoming out’, or malrotation.
  2.  Aesthetic reasons
  • to change breast size (larger or smaller implants)
  • to improve breast shape
  • to correct breast sag
  • to change implant position
  • to correct asymmetry (uneven breasts)
  • Over dissatisfaction with the result of their original surgery

 3. Health reasons

  • A suspicion or recent diagnosis of breast cancer
  • Worries about the type of implants in place (e.g. textured implant)
  • Pain or discomfort from the breast implants

How Is Breast Implant Replacement Done?

Breast Implant Replacement is performed under General Anaesthesia administered by a Specialist Anaesthetist.

Breast Implant Replacement typically takes between 1 and 3 hours, depending on whether one or both implants need to be replaced, and what additional adjustments are required. During the initial consultation, your Plastic Surgeon will assess the result you wish to achieve and then explain what needs to be done to best meet your objectives.

To have your breast implants removed and replaced, your Plastic Surgeon will first make an incision in the fold under your breast. This is the chosen approach for breast implant replacement. If this was the route used for your original surgery, the surgeon will use the original incision and you will not have a second scar. If, however, the implants were inserted through another approach (e.g. armpit, peri-areolar, or navel), the breast implant replacement will still need to be done through an incision in the fold under the breast. Naturally, this will create a second scar but this area typically leaves a fine scar which becomes progressively less conspicuous over time.

Breast Implant Replacement may be done with or without removal of the fibrous capsule that always forms naturally around every implant. Removal of this fibrous capsule is known as a Capsulectomy. Your surgeon will remove the implant with or without its surrounding capsule, make any necessary adjustments to the implant pocket, and then insert a replacement implant.

Capsulectomy is not always performed every time with every Breast Implant Replacement. –  the reason being that most surgeons try to avoid removing the capsule unless absolutely necessary because:

  • It is more invasive and traumatic to the tissues and thereby increases the risk of complications.
  • It increases operation time and therefore patient costs.
  • It increases surgical risks such as pneumothorax, bleeding, and nerve damage.
  • It creates a longer recovery period.
  • It makes recovery more painful.

Having said that, Capsulectomy is always required if you are having replacement surgery for Capsular Contracture.

Recovery After Breast Implant Replacement

Immediately after surgery, you can expect some pain, swelling, and bruising in your breasts which peak at around the 2nd and 3rd days before they start to lessen.

The intensity and duration of these symptoms will largely depend on how invasive your surgery was. For example, Implant Replacement with Capsulectomy causes more and longer lasting discomfort than an Implant Replacement without Capsulectomy.

In general, recovery after breast implant replacement takes around 4-6 weeks.

During the recovery period, you will need to wear a surgical compression bra for 4-6 weeks, day and night, even when sleeping.

You should be able to resume light household activities after 3 days but avoid all strenuous activities or exercise for the first 6 weeks.

If your work is not physically demanding, you may feel able to resume working after 1-2 weeks but once again, this will depend on the extent of the surgery you’ve had.

Potential Risks & Complications

Although surgery and anaesthesia nowadays are considered generally safe, every surgery has potential risks and complications, and with Breast Implant Replacement, they include:

Specific to Breast Implant Replacement:

  • Post-operative bleeding and possible hematoma formation which could require a return to Theatre for drainage.
  • Infection
  • Seroma (fluid collection under the breast skin) requiring one or more aspirations.
  • Asymmetry of the breasts or nipples.
  • Pneumothorax (air entry into the chest when the delicate intercostal muscles between the ribs are accidentally perforated, a higher risk during a capsulectomy)
  • Numbness of the breast or nipple, usually temporary, rarely permanent.
  • Keloids scars (raised and thickened incision scars) if you are prone to them, or pigmented scars if you have brown or Asian skin.
  • Implant-related complications including rupture, capsular contracture, displacement, malposition, palpability, seroma, rippling/wrinkling, ptosis, and BIA-ALCL.

 General Risks:

  • Allergic reaction to medications, sutures, dressings, or antiseptic solutions.
  • Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) and its potential to cause life-threatening Pulmonary Embolism. To reduce the risk of DVT, Calf Massagers can be applied for the entire duration of your surgery to prevent the blood in your leg veins from pooling and clotting.
  • Adverse Reactions to Anaesthesia or Medication: The safety of anaesthesia nowadays in Australia is well established. Nevertheless, potential risks exist with all anaesthesia and unexpected reactions can occur. These may include nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions ranging from minor to severe. Respiratory failure, heart failure, heart attack and stroke are rare but documented risks of any general anaesthesia.

‘Before and After’ Breast Implant Replacement

Breast Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement - L. 390cc & R. 445cc - With Correction of Deformity
Breast Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement With Total Capsulectomy and Breast Lift for Ruptured Implants
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement with Total Capsulectomy for Capsular Contracture + Implant Upsizing from 300cc to 350cc
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement & Repositioning With Change of Implants to 495cc Teardrops
Breast Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement + Upsizing of Implants from 410cc to 445cc + Breast Lift
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Breast Revision & Breast Implant Replacement Using 545cc Teardrop Implants After Primary Breast Augmentation
Implant Revision Surgery
Before
Implant Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement For Requested Larger Implants (625cc)
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Before
Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Breast Implant Replacement With Downsizing of Implants From 560cc to 475cc + Internal Bra Support + Bilateral Breast Lift

Breast Implant Replacement Cost Sydney

  • Breast Implant Replacement Sydney

The total cost of a Breast Implant Replacement in Sydney can vary widely due to the variability of its component costs such as:

  • Whether one or both implants are to be replaced.
  • Whether a capsulectomy is required.
  • The duration of your procedure: this will determine the Hospital Theatre Fee and the Anaesthetist Fee.
  • The cost of the replacement implants(s).
  • Surgical Fee:

    Impossible to quote until our Plastic Surgeon has determined what exactly needs to be done. 

  • Additional costs will include Hospital Fee, Anaesthetist Fee, Post-operative Garment, and Replacement Implant(s) – unless the implants are covered under Warranty.
  • Our Plastic Surgeon will provide you with an itemised quotation and total cost once it has been decided what needs to be done, how long it will take, and whether the implants are covered under the Manufacturer’s Warranty.
  • Follow-up appointments for up to 6 months are included.

Can I Claim a Medicare or Private Health Insurance Rebate?

Surgical procedures for purely cosmetic reasons are not eligible for a Medicare Rebate.

Depending on the reason for your Breast Implant Replacement, you may be able to claim a partial Medicare Rebate.

If you do qualify for a Medicare Rebate, and you also have Private Hospital Cover, you may be able to also claim a variable portion of your Hospital Fees depending on your Fund and Level of Cover.