Breast implants are synthetic and do not last forever. Implant replacement surgery is necessary when the implants fail or get old. Doctors also perform implant replacement surgery because some women want different sized breasts. The surgery also corrects capsular contracture, which occurs when the scar tissue or capsule that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes the implant.
Replacement
When replacing implants, the doctor makes a small incision over the prior scar and the surgeon replaces the old implants with new ones. During this surgery, the doctor releases the capsule formed around the old implants. The doctor then enlarges the pocket for new implants. If the capsule has tightened and changed the breast shape, the doctor removes the capsule before placing new breast implants.
Saline or Silicone
Saline and silicone implants are available. Numerous research studies boast the safety of silicone implants.
Resources
Patients should do research before having breast implant surgery. There are multiple resources available online. No breast implant resource is unbiased; plastic surgeons emphasize the benefits for business while regulators try to protect themselves from complaints.
Breast Profile
The last breast implant variable to consider before undergoing breast augmentation is the projection of the implant. The larger the implants the larger the diameter of the breast; sometimes the size of the implant exceeds the diameter of the natural breast. Women with average chest diameters who desire small to moderate breast implants will typically receive a standard "moderate" profile implant. If the chest diameter is especially small or if a patient selects a breast implant diameter that is too large, the breast implants with either touch each other at the center of the chest (synmastia) or extend too far into the underarms, or both. In order to minimize the risk for synmastia or breast implants that extend too far into the underarms, surgeons choose implants with a narrower diameter containing the same volume of fill. For instance, a standard "moderate" profile 425cc breast implant volume has a diameter of 14.2 cm and a forward projection of 4.2 cm. A "moderate plus" 420cc breast implant has a narrower diameter of 12.9 cm and a projection of 4.8 cm. The narrowest 420cc implant is a "high profile" implant and has a diameter of 12.0 cm and a projection of 5.4 cm.
