Breast Implant Revision
(Implant Exchange & Correction)
Breast implant revision changes or corrects a previous augmentation. The operation may replace an implant, change its size or type, repair a stretched implant pocket, treat capsular contracture, address rupture or deflation, improve asymmetry, or combine implant surgery with a breast lift. The right revision starts by defining the problem before choosing the procedure.[1]
Revision is not one operation.
Some patients still like having implants but want a different size, shape, feel, or position. Others need surgery because an implant has ruptured, a capsule has tightened, the pocket has stretched, or the breasts have changed after pregnancy, weight change, or aging. A revision can be straightforward or substantially more complex than the first augmentation.
Adonis performs breast revision surgery in Torrance for patients throughout Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Long Beach, San Pedro, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, the South Bay, and greater Los Angeles.
The useful question is not simply “Do I need new implants?” It is “What changed: the implant, the capsule, the pocket, the breast tissue, the skin envelope, or my goals?”
Who should consider a breast implant revision consultation?
A revision consultation is appropriate when you have a specific concern about an existing implant, capsule, breast shape, implant position, or desired size. It is also appropriate when imaging suggests rupture or when your preferences have changed enough that the original augmentation no longer fits your goals. Breast implants are not lifetime devices, but there is no automatic rule that every implant must be replaced at a specific anniversary.[4]
You want to keep implants, but change them
You may want a different size, width, projection, fill material, or overall breast proportion while continuing implant-based augmentation.
You have firmness, pain, or visible distortion
Capsular contracture can make a breast feel firm or painful and can alter the position or shape of an implant.
Your implant has moved
Bottoming out, lateral displacement, symmastia, fold malposition, or other pocket problems may require structural correction rather than implant exchange alone.
Your breasts changed around the implants
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight change, aging, and skin stretching can create sagging or tissue changes even when the implants remain intact.
Replace, resize, reposition, remove, or add a lift?
Breast implant revision should solve the current problem rather than automatically repeat the first operation. The implant decision and the breast-shape decision are related, but they are not identical.
Fits patients who still want similar volume but need exchange because of rupture, deflation, device change, or another implant-related reason.
A smaller or differently shaped implant can change breast weight and projection, but a stretched pocket or loose skin may also need treatment.
A larger implant may be considered when anatomy and tissue support allow it, but larger volume is not a substitute for correcting pocket or skin problems.
Capsulorrhaphy, pocket conversion, fold adjustment, or other support may be needed when an implant sits outside the intended position.
A breast lift becomes relevant when skin and breast tissue have descended enough that implant exchange alone will not correct the shape.
Explantation is a valid option when you no longer want implants. The resulting breast shape depends on remaining tissue, skin elasticity, implant size, and prior stretching.
When scar tissue becomes part of the problem.
The body normally forms a capsule of scar tissue around every breast implant. Capsular contracture occurs when that capsule tightens enough to create abnormal firmness, distortion, discomfort, or pain. Revision may involve releasing or removing selected capsule tissue, replacing the implant, changing the implant pocket, or combining techniques depending on severity and anatomy.[3]
Capsulectomy is not automatically required for every revision. The amount of capsule treatment should follow the clinical indication rather than a one-size-fits-all rule.
An intact-looking breast does not always prove a silicone implant is intact.
Saline rupture is usually apparent because the implant deflates. Silicone rupture can be “silent,” meaning it may not be obvious from appearance or physical examination alone. The FDA recommends ultrasound or MRI screening for asymptomatic silicone implants beginning about five to six years after implantation and then every two to three years thereafter; MRI is recommended when symptoms are present or ultrasound is equivocal.[5]
Suspected rupture
Imaging and clinical evaluation can help determine implant integrity and whether revision or removal is indicated.
Late swelling or a mass
Persistent swelling, a mass, or pain around an implant deserves evaluation before elective cosmetic revision because rare implant-associated conditions can change the diagnostic and surgical plan.[7]
No automatic 10-year exchange
Breast implants are not lifetime devices, but the FDA does not set a universal deadline requiring replacement at ten years simply because the date has arrived.
For more detail, read the Adonis guide to what happens when a breast implant ruptures.
If the pocket is wrong, replacing the implant alone may not fix the breast.
An implant can descend below the intended fold, drift toward the armpit, sit too close to the midline, rotate, or occupy a pocket that has stretched beyond the implant. These are mechanical problems involving the relationship between implant dimensions, breast tissue, capsule, muscle, and the pocket created by prior surgery.
Bottoming out
The implant sits too low relative to the nipple and intended inframammary fold. Repair may require tightening or redefining the lower pocket.
Lateral displacement
The implant drifts too far toward the side of the chest, which can become more noticeable when lying down or with arm movement.
Symmastia
The implant pockets extend too far toward the center of the chest, reducing the natural separation between the breasts. Repair is technically different from simply exchanging implant size.[8]
Asymmetry or fold mismatch
One implant may sit higher or lower because of capsule differences, pocket position, breast anatomy, or changes in the inframammary fold.
Keeping an implant and removing an implant are different treatment paths.
Breast implant revision usually means correcting or updating a prior augmentation while keeping implant-based volume, although the procedure may include temporary removal and replacement during surgery.
Breast implant removal means the implant is removed without replacement. Some patients accept the resulting breast shape; others benefit from a breast lift or selected fat grafting depending on remaining tissue and skin.
You do not have to decide the operation before the consultation. The first decision is what you want to keep, change, or correct.
How breast implant revision is planned and performed.
Revision surgery is performed with an anesthesia plan appropriate to the operation. Incision choice depends on prior scars and what needs to be corrected. The surgeon may remove the existing implant, inspect the pocket and capsule, perform capsule or pocket work when indicated, place a new implant if one is being used, assess breast position and symmetry, and add a lift or other correction when the plan requires it.[2]
A straightforward exchange can be very different from a revision involving severe contracture, implant rupture, thin tissues, malposition, a large size change, or mastopexy. Operative time and recovery therefore depend on the actual components of the revision rather than the word “revision” itself.
Define the problem
Your surgeon reviews the current breast shape, implant position, capsule, prior scars, skin and tissue quality, symptoms, imaging when relevant, and what you want to change.
Review the first operation
Implant cards, prior operative reports, implant size and style, original pocket plane, and previous breast procedures can improve planning when available.
Correct implant, capsule, and/or pocket
The surgical work is selected to the actual issue: exchange, capsule treatment, pocket tightening or conversion, fold repair, asymmetry correction, or another structural step.
Reassess breast shape
If the skin or nipple position also needs correction, a breast lift may be performed at the same operation or staged depending on tissue quality and surgical complexity.
Bring as much information about your implants as you can.
Revision planning improves when the surgeon can reconstruct what was done previously. Do not delay a consultation if records are unavailable, but bring what you have.
- Implant card, manufacturer, style, size, surface, and fill if known
- Original operative report or prior revision records if available
- Approximate date of implantation and any prior breast lift or capsule surgery
- Recent ultrasound or MRI if rupture or another implant problem has already been evaluated
- What you want to change now: size, position, firmness, asymmetry, discomfort, or implant preference
- Reference photos can help communicate proportion and shape, but your anatomy determines what is achievable
If you are not sure whether the problem is the implant, the capsule, the pocket, sagging, or several things at once, that is exactly what a revision consultation should determine.
REQUEST MY CONSULTATIONRecovery follows the operation you actually had, not a generic revision timeline.
Swelling, soreness, tightness, bruising, and temporary sensory changes can occur after revision. A simple implant exchange may recover differently from capsulectomy, extensive pocket repair, or revision combined with mastopexy. ASPS recommends following procedure-specific wound care, support-garment, medication, activity, and follow-up instructions from your surgeon.[6]
Protect the repair
Expect swelling and soreness. Walking is encouraged, while lifting, pushing, pulling, and strenuous activity remain limited.
Early follow-up
Your surgeon checks incision healing, swelling, breast position, and any drains or support garments used in your specific operation.
Activity expands gradually
Exercise and heavier activity return only after clearance. Pocket repair or a combined breast lift can change the pace.
Shape continues to settle
Swelling decreases, scars mature, tissues soften, and implant position becomes easier to judge over time.
These are general recovery phases, not a guarantee of when you personally can return to work, exercise, driving, or lifting. Your written postoperative instructions take priority.
Price depends on what the revision actually requires.
Adonis currently publishes a planning range of $12,500–$17,000 for breast implant removal plus replacement. That range should not be treated as a universal breast-revision price. Complex capsule surgery, rupture, pocket reconstruction, new implants, thin-tissue correction, or a combined breast lift can materially change the surgical plan and final quote.
Implant removal + replacement
Current published Adonis planning range for removal and replacement. Your anatomy, implant choice, capsule, pocket, anesthesia, facility requirements, and complexity affect the final quote.
Complex breast revision
Revision involving contracture, malposition, rupture, significant asymmetry, tissue support, or mastopexy requires an individualized surgical plan and written quote.
Planning ranges are not fixed prices or guaranteed quotes. Review the current Adonis plastic surgery pricing guide and ask what is included in your itemized quote.
Revision care in the South Bay, with follow-up close to home.
Adonis Plastic Surgery is located at 2557 Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance. The practice serves breast-revision patients from Torrance, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Long Beach, San Pedro, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, and surrounding Los Angeles communities.
Revision patients often require more detailed preoperative planning and postoperative follow-up than a simple first-time augmentation. Having the surgical facility, nursing team, and follow-up care connected through one practice helps keep the plan organized from consultation through recovery.
Common questions about implant exchange and revision surgery.
What is breast implant revision?
Breast implant revision is surgery performed after a previous breast augmentation to change or correct the implant result. It can involve implant exchange, size or profile change, capsular contracture treatment, rupture management, pocket repair, implant repositioning, asymmetry correction, breast lift, or a combination.
Do breast implants have to be replaced every 10 years?
No. Breast implants are not lifetime devices, but there is no universal rule requiring automatic replacement at ten years. Revision is based on implant condition, symptoms, imaging when appropriate, breast changes, and your goals.
What is the difference between breast implant revision and implant exchange?
Implant exchange is one type of revision in which an existing implant is replaced with another implant. Revision is the broader category and may also include capsule surgery, pocket correction, breast lifting, asymmetry treatment, or removal without replacement.
Can I change from saline to silicone implants?
Yes, selected patients can exchange saline implants for silicone implants. The revision plan should also evaluate implant dimensions, breast tissue coverage, pocket position, and whether any capsule or breast-shape correction is needed at the same time.
Can I downsize my breast implants without a lift?
Sometimes. If the skin envelope and nipple position still fit the smaller volume, downsizing may be possible without mastopexy. If the breast has stretched around a larger implant, a smaller implant may reveal loose skin or a lower breast position. The pocket may also need tightening.
Can capsular contracture be fixed?
Revision surgery can treat capsular contracture by addressing the implant and scar capsule according to the severity and anatomy. Options may include capsulotomy, partial or total capsulectomy, implant exchange, pocket change, or selected support techniques. Recurrence is still possible.
What happens if a silicone breast implant ruptures?
Silicone rupture can be silent or may cause shape change, lumps, pain, swelling, or other symptoms. Ultrasound or MRI may be used to evaluate implant integrity. When revision is indicated, the implant is removed and the surgeon determines how to manage the capsule, silicone, pocket, and replacement decision based on the findings.
Can revision surgery fix bottoming out?
Bottoming out is an implant-position problem in which the implant descends too far below the intended fold. Correction may require pocket tightening, fold reconstruction, implant change, or additional support depending on tissue quality and the cause of the malposition.
Can breast implant revision fix asymmetry?
Revision can often improve asymmetry caused by implant position, capsule differences, implant dimensions, fold position, or breast tissue changes. Perfect symmetry cannot be guaranteed because natural chest and breast anatomy can also be asymmetric.
Can a breast lift be done with implant revision?
Yes. A breast lift can be combined with implant exchange, downsizing, or other revision work when breast tissue and nipple position have descended. In more complex cases, a surgeon may recommend staging rather than performing every correction at once.
Can my implants be removed and not replaced?
Yes. Implant removal without replacement is a separate option. The breast shape afterward depends on remaining breast tissue, implant size, skin elasticity, pregnancy and weight history, and how much the breast envelope has stretched. Some patients choose removal alone; others consider a lift or fat grafting.
Will breast implant revision use my old scar?
Existing incision lines can often be used, but not always. The correct incision depends on the prior scar, implant type, capsule work, pocket correction, breast lift requirements, and the access needed for safe revision.
Is breast implant revision more difficult than the first augmentation?
It can be. Revision surgery may involve scar tissue, a pre-existing pocket, altered breast folds, thin tissues, prior incisions, asymmetry, or changes in blood supply. A simple exchange can be relatively straightforward, while complex malposition or revision mastopexy requires substantially more planning.
How long is recovery after breast implant revision?
Recovery depends on the operation. A simple exchange may be closer to a primary augmentation recovery, while capsulectomy, pocket reconstruction, or a combined breast lift can require more time. Your surgeon should give activity restrictions based on the actual procedure performed.
How much does breast implant revision cost in Torrance or Los Angeles?
Adonis currently publishes $12,500–$17,000 as a planning range for implant removal plus replacement. More complex revision surgery is individualized because capsule work, malposition repair, rupture, implant choice, tissue support, anesthesia, facility requirements, and a breast lift can change the scope substantially.
What should I bring to a breast implant revision consultation?
Bring your implant card, prior operative report, previous breast surgery records, and recent implant imaging if available. Also be ready to explain what you want to change now, including size, shape, breast position, firmness, symptoms, or whether you still want implants.
When should implant symptoms be evaluated promptly?
New or persistent swelling, a breast or chest mass, significant pain, sudden shape change, marked firmness, redness, fever, drainage, or suspected rupture should be medically evaluated. Late swelling or a mass around an implant should not be treated as a routine cosmetic revision without appropriate assessment.
Do you see breast revision patients who had their original augmentation elsewhere?
Yes. A revision consultation can evaluate a prior augmentation performed elsewhere. Bring the original implant information and operative report if you have them, but an in-person evaluation can still begin when those records are unavailable.
Do you see breast implant revision patients from outside Torrance?
Yes. Adonis Plastic Surgery is in Torrance and serves patients from Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Long Beach, San Pedro, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, throughout the South Bay, and greater Los Angeles.
Clinical information grounded in independent breast-implant guidance.
These references support general educational information about breast implant revision, procedure planning, recovery, rupture, long-term monitoring, implant-related complications, and malposition. They do not replace an individualized examination, imaging when indicated, or medical advice from your surgeon.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Ultrasound / MRI surveillance recommendations
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Late swelling, mass and implant-related evaluation
Aesthetic Surgery Journal · PubMed
Define the problem first. Then build the revision around it.
Meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon to review your implants, capsule, pocket position, breast tissue, skin, prior scars, imaging when relevant, and what you want to change now. The goal is a clear explanation of whether implant exchange, downsizing, pocket repair, capsule treatment, lifting, removal, or a staged plan fits your anatomy.