Breast Implant Revision

AT A GLANCE

Breast implant revision replaces existing implants with new ones and corrects problems that develop over time, such as capsular contracture, rupture, malposition, or rippling, or updates the size or type. At Santa Barbara Face & Body in Santa Barbara, California, a board-certified plastic surgeon plans the exchange with any capsule, pocket, or lift work it requires, matched to the patient’s current anatomy.

Breast implant revision, or implant exchange, removes old implants and places new ones, and addresses complications that arise over the life of implants, capsular contracture, rupture or leak, implant malposition, rippling, and tissue changes after pregnancy, weight change, or aging. Revision often reuses the original incision and may include a capsulectomy, pocket reshaping, or a concurrent lift or reduction. Implants are not lifetime devices, so revision is expected over time.

What it does

Revision does two related jobs: it updates the implant and it fixes what has changed.

Exchanges the implant. Replaces older implants with new ones, and can change the size, shape, or type at the same time.
Corrects complications. Addresses capsular contracture, rupture, malposition, or rippling that have developed since the first surgery.
Restores the match. When the breast tissue has dropped but the implant has not, or the reverse, revision realigns tissue and implant.

Because implants are not lifetime devices, needing revision at some point is a normal part of having them rather than a sign something went wrong.

Exchange and correct new implants, and any problem addressed

How it works

Revision is performed under anesthesia, usually through the original incision so no new scar is added where it can be avoided. Depending on what is needed, the surgeon removes and replaces the implant, removes or releases the scar capsule, reshapes the pocket to reposition the implant, and adds a lift if the breast has dropped. Recovery is comparable to the first surgery, with routine activity back in a couple of weeks and strenuous exercise later on the surgeon’s guidance.

What the revision includes is planned around your specific problem, an aging implant, a contracture, a malposition, or a size change, so the operation is scaled to what your breasts actually need.

Original incision revision usually reuses the existing scar

What revision can address, and why the plan is specific

Revision is not one operation; it is a set of corrections chosen for your situation.

What has happened	What it means	The revision step
Scar capsule tightened	Capsular contracture	Release or remove the capsule, new implant
Implant ruptured or leaked	Device failure	Remove and replace the implant
Implant sits too high, low, or wide	Malposition	Reshape the pocket to reposition
Visible ripples or edges	Rippling	Change implant type or add coverage
Breast dropped around the implant	Tissue and implant mismatch	Exchange with a concurrent lift

The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon diagnoses exactly what has changed and plans the revision, capsule work, pocket work, implant choice, and a lift if needed, to correct it and look natural.

What revision works with

This is what the consultation assesses, often with imaging, because the plan depends on the cause.

What you notice	Likely cause	The plan
Firmness, distortion, discomfort	Capsular contracture	Capsulectomy with a new implant
A change in shape or a deflation	Rupture or leak	Exchange, imaging to confirm
Implants that look or feel too big	Changed preference	Downsize or switch type
Sagging over the implant	Tissue drop	Exchange plus a lift
Wanting out of implants entirely	Personal choice	Removal instead of revision

The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon reads the cause, sometimes with an ultrasound or MRI, and matches the revision to it, or is honest when removal without replacement is the better path.

Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

Revision is often more demanding than the first augmentation, because the surgeon is working with an existing pocket, a capsule, and tissue that has changed. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he diagnoses the cause carefully and plans the revision to correct it, adding a lift or capsule work only when it is needed. He is also candid when removing the implants without replacing them is the better choice for you.

Diagnosis first the revision is matched to the cause

A good fit if you

Have implants that have hardened, shifted, ruptured, or aged
Want to change the size, shape, or type of your implants
Have noticed the breast dropping around a stable implant
Are in good general health and understand recovery

Worth talking through first if you

Would rather remove the implants entirely, where explant is the route
Have systemic symptoms you attribute to implants, worth an honest discussion
Are between pregnancies, which can change results and timing
Smoke or have conditions that affect healing

What to expect

Dr. Polynice examines your breasts and implants, orders imaging when it helps confirm a rupture or contracture, and identifies what has actually changed. He explains the revision that addresses it, whether that includes capsule work, a pocket adjustment, a new implant, or a lift, and gives you an honest picture, including whether removal without replacement would serve you better. You leave with a plan matched to the diagnosis.

What it costs

Revision is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends entirely on what your revision involves, a simple exchange or a more complex correction with capsule or lift work. You will have that number in writing at your consultation, before anything is scheduled.

What it is: Exchanging implants and correcting problems
Common reasons: Contracture, rupture, malposition, rippling, size
Often includes: Capsule work, pocket reshaping, or a lift
Incision: Usually the original scar
Performed by: Dr. Alain Polynice, board-certified plastic surgeon

How do I know if I need a revision?

Common signs include new firmness or distortion, a change in shape suggesting a rupture, an implant that has shifted, visible rippling, or simply wanting a different size or to update aging implants. A surgeon examines the breast and may use imaging such as ultrasound or MRI to confirm the cause before recommending a plan.

Do I have to replace the implants, or can I just remove them?

Both are options. Revision replaces the implants with new ones, while removal takes them out without replacing them, sometimes with a lift or fat transfer to restore shape. Which is right depends on what you want going forward, and a surgeon will discuss both honestly rather than defaulting to replacement.

Will I need a lift too?

Sometimes. If the breast tissue has dropped while the implant stayed in place, or the reverse, a lift combined with the exchange realigns the two for a natural result. If the tissue is still well positioned, a straight exchange may be enough. The consultation determines whether a lift adds value in your case.

How long do the new implants last?

Like the originals, replacement implants are durable but not lifetime devices, so another revision may be needed years down the line, and monitoring is recommended. This is a normal part of having implants rather than a reason against revision, and your surgeon will explain follow-up.

Is recovery worse than my first surgery?

It is usually comparable, though a complex revision with extensive capsule work can involve a bit more. Most people are back to routine activity within a couple of weeks, with exercise resumed later. Your surgeon will give you a recovery timeline specific to the revision you need.