Breast Procedures: Implant Exchange

For a variety of reasons, patients with breast implants may desire to have them exchanged for new ones. Common reasons for breast implant exchange include:

• Wanting a different size or shape of breasts
• Body changes due to weight loss or gain
• Pregnancy
• Saline breast implants that have punctured or changed shape
• Scar tissue tightening that requires repositioning

The patient can choose from a variety of new implants, regardless of the type currently in place.

Some choices include:

• Silicone implants filled with a soft gel
• Saline implants filled with sterilized salt water
• "Gummy bear" implants, filled with a gel more firm and thick than silicone implants

What happens during a breast implant exchange procedure?

Breast implant exchange surgery is very similar to breast augmentation surgery, but instead, the current implant source is removed to make room for the new one. Breasts are reshaped to meet the new specifications.