What breast implant exchange is
Breast implant exchange (also called implant replacement) removes the implants you already have and replaces them with new ones. It is a common follow-up for people whose implants are many years old, who want a different size or shape or who have a problem with the implant or the tissue around it. The surgeon usually uses the existing scar, and the implant pocket already exists, so some people find recovery a little quicker than after their first augmentation. This depends on the plan, and your surgeon will advise.
Why people choose it
- The implants are older and you would like to replace them before problems arise.
- A suspected or confirmed rupture, which can be silent and is checked with ultrasound or MRI.
- Hardening of the tissue around the implant (capsular contracture).
- Rippling, folds, rotation or an implant that has moved.
- You want a different size, shape or type.
- Your breasts have changed with pregnancy, weight change or age.
Exchange with a lift or reduction
Implants sit inside breast tissue and skin that change over time. If the skin has stretched or the breasts have dropped, new implants alone may not give the shape you want. Surgeons often combine exchange with:
- A breast lift, which raises the breast and repositions the nipple, so the new implant sits in a better shaped breast.
- A breast reduction, which removes tissue as well, if the implants are large or you want to be smaller overall.
Combining operations means more incisions and longer surgery, and raises the risk of wound-healing problems, especially where scars meet. Some surgeons prefer to do the operations in stages. Ask which they recommend for you and why. See breast lift, breast lift with implant and breast reduction for more on those operations.
Capsulectomy
The body forms a scar capsule around every implant. Your surgeon decides whether to leave it, remove part of it or remove all of it, depending on its thickness, hardness and condition, and whether your implants were textured. A fuller removal takes longer and affects recovery, so it is worth discussing before surgery.
What to expect
- Before: an examination, a review of your implant details and any scans, and a plan agreed in writing.
- The operation: under general anaesthetic. The old implants are removed, the capsule is dealt with as planned, any lift or reduction is done and the new implants are placed. Drains may be used.
- Afterwards: swelling, bruising and tightness are normal. The NHS suggests one to two weeks off work after a breast enlargement and two to three weeks after a breast reduction, with strenuous exercise avoided for up to six weeks. A support bra is worn day and night for several weeks.
Risks
General surgical risks include bleeding, infection, scarring and reactions to anaesthetic. Exchange carries the risks of implants: capsular contracture, rupture, rippling and the rare BIA-ALCL, which has been linked mostly to textured implants. A lift or reduction adds wound-healing problems, uneven breasts or nipples and changes in nipple sensation, and a reduction may affect breastfeeding. Revision surgery can be more complex than a first operation. Seek urgent help for fever, a hot, red or rapidly swelling breast, heavy bleeding, chest pain or breathlessness.
Implants are not lifetime devices. Keep your new implant details and ask your surgeon what check-ups and scans they advise.
What to bring
Your implant card or details (brand, type, size, lot numbers), the date and place of your first operation, any ultrasound or MRI reports and photos from before your first operation. If you have a problem such as pain, a change in shape or a possible rupture, say so when you ask for a quote.
Planning the trip
Plan on about a week in Istanbul. The surgeon will want to check wounds and drains before you fly, and flying too soon after surgery raises the risk of blood clots. BAAPS, which represents UK aesthetic surgeons, cautions that aftercare abroad can be limited once you are home and that most holiday insurance does not cover surgery that goes wrong. Ask who reviews problems remotely, what the package says about complications and whether you will receive operation notes and implant details for your own doctor. Your coordinator stays in touch after you fly home.
Price
Prices are for the treatment only, so hotel and airport transfers are not included, and flights and travel insurance are separate. The live starting price is shown at the top of this page. Your written quote confirms exactly what is included for your plan, and arrives within 24 hours. Get a free quote for your exchange, or read about breast augmentation.
Sources
- NHS: breast enlargement: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/breast-enlargement/
- NHS: breast reduction: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-reduction/
- BAAPS: cosmetic tourism: https://baaps.org.uk/patients/safety_in_surgery/cosmetic_tourism.aspx
- Hospital and clinic guidance on implant removal and replacement (secondary sources)
Treatment is performed by independent licensed providers. Results vary, every operation has risks, and only a surgeon who has examined you can say what is right for you.
