Secondary breast augmentation, exchange of breast implants

Secondary breast augmentation, exchange of breast implants

Breast augmentation is considered successful if it brings long-term satisfaction.

The most common causes of breast implant replacement operations are: capsular contracture, implant displacement, implant rupture and seroma. In some cases the patient requires a larger volume of the implant or is not satisfied with the shape of the breasts, which have changed over time. Implants are removed without any motivation in very rare cases.

The following options are offered to patients who are experiencing problems after breast augmentation:

1. Only observation in dynamics (clinical and ultrasonographic);
2. Implant removal, with or without mastopexy (breast lift);
3. Implant removal and replacement of new implants (with or without capsulectomy);
4. Implant removal, replacement of new implants (with or without capsulectomy) and mastopexy;

The general principles in secondary augmentations (change of implants) are based on the following pillars:

• patient selection;
• patients informing;
• preoperative planning and implant selection;
• thorough surgical technique;
• correct postoperative care.

  Surgical technique:

Implant extraction, capsulectomy (removal of the implant capsule), change of implant location and placement of new implants are the gold standard in the treatment of capsular contractures. Submuscular placement of implants is associated with a lower frequency of capsular contracture.

The choice of surgical technique in the secondary operation depends on the reason for the reoperation, the location of the implant in the primary augmentation, the individual features of the soft tissues, the new implant model, which is replaced.

Rehabilitation period

The patient remains in the hospital for two days. The rehabilitation period is 1-3 months. It is recommended in the first month after the operation to limit the physical effort, to wear the elastic corset, to sleep on your back. Reducing movements in the first few weeks has been shown to reduce the likelihood of capsular contracture.