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Can You Remove Your Implants Now and Replace Them Later?

A woman holding breast implants

4 Minute Read

Most women never anticipate the possibility of removing their implants before getting them.

In fact, this is a situation that some women must consider.

Breast implant revision or removal is performed on women to address physical complications, such as implant rupture, or to enhance aesthetics and appearance following breast augmentation.

Implants are removed for various reasons, and while some women decide that they no longer want their implants, others decide that they do, and replace them with new ones.

Why Would Women Remove Their Implants?

Change In Aesthetic Preference

Many women choose to get implants early in their adult lives. Saline breast implants are approved for women over the age of 18, and silicone implants are recommended over the age of 22.

When women around this age consider implants, they are doing so because they are preferring larger or fuller breasts.

Sometimes, women who get implants young do not always consider how their breasts will change with pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations.

These events may change the proportions of natural breast tissue and normal breast fat, thereby altering the way the implants look on the chest.

This situation may cause women to remove or replace their implants to better enhance their natural contour.

Alternatively, some women change their mind on their preferred size of their chosen implant. Some women wish they had chosen a larger implant. Others wish that they had chosen a smaller implant.

Whichever it may be, the size of the implants can be adjusted.

Implant Complications

Physical complications are often the cause for needing to remove implants. These complications usually come out of the blue and are, unfortunately, typically unavoidable.

Complications, such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, and implant displacement, may benefit from the removal of the implant.

Many women who remove a damaged implant are only doing so to correct the damage, not because they are unhappy with their aesthetic appearance.

Implant Fear

In July, the FDA urged Allergan™—a manufacturer of breast implants—to recall a line of their textured implants that had been linked to breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

Allergan™ followed the FDA’s recommendation, and this news has caused a spike in concern over the safety of breast implants.

Breast implants are overall safe, and complications, especially BIA-ACLC, are very rare.

BIA-ACLC is a rare cancer of the immune system that occurs in the scar tissue around certain types of textured breast implants. This disease is usually very treatable and only associated with specific textured implants.

When Can You Replace Your Implants?

Whatever the reason for removal, the decision does not have to be permanent.

Breast implants can be replaced immediately following the removal of the damaged or unwanted implant or can be done months or years down the line.

If the breast implants are not being replaced immediately, some women find that they would benefit from a breast lift to address any sagging of the breasts that occurs due to the reduced volume.
Should You Replace Your Implants Immediately?
Implants can be replaced immediately in situations regarding implant complications or changes in aesthetic preference.

A replacement implant can be an exact match of your previous implant (which is necessary if only one implant needs to be replaced), or it can be a larger or smaller size.

The immediate replacement of the implants does come with some benefits. This option is generally more cost-effective in the long run.

Because removal and replacement are performed on the same day, you will only be paying for one round of anesthesia and one day of the operating room facility.

You will also have a reduced recovery rate because you will recover from the removal and the replacement simultaneously.

before and after breast implant removal

Are There Any Downsides to Replacing Implants Later?

While there is nothing wrong with wanting to wait a few years before replacing your implants, there may be a higher chance of complications.

Scar tissue develops any time an incision is made. Therefore, you will have more scar tissue present down the line than you would initially.

Each surgical procedures come with a potential risk of local complications like bleeding, infection, hematoma, and blood clotting.

The more surgical procedures you have, the greater chance there is of developing a complication.

A separate breast augmentation down the line will also come with additional financial costs.

To Find Out More

For any questions that you may have, or to find breast augmentation near you, contact Dr. Alexander by filling out our online contact form.

Dr. Alexander performs breast augmentation in Las Vegas, NV.

Dr. Alexander's Office

A top Plastic Surgeon, Dr. George Alexander, serving more happy patients in Las Vegas, the United States and Internationally.

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1725 Village Center Circle, Suite 150
Las Vegas, Nevada USA | (702) 242-6776

"Dr. Alexander and his staff are all accommodating and friendly. Dr. Alexander takes time to really address your concerns and questions. He is an awesome doctor. We highly recommend him to anyone in need of cosmetic surgery.” five star rating

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