Prosthesis Replacement
| Anesthesia | General |
| Duration | 1.5–2 hours |
| Hospitalization | 1 night |
| Postoperative needs | Postoperative bra with or without an underband (1 month)*. |
| Results | Immediately visible. Settlement 1 year. |
Prosthesis Replacement with Capsulectomy
One of the most complex surgeries
Prosthesis replacement is a surgical procedure performed on people who have previously undergone breast augmentation surgery.
Although it may seem like a simple procedure, it is possibly one of the most complex surgeries performed on the breast.
Breast implants do not last forever. A woman undergoing breast augmentation surgery for the first time should be aware that she may need additional breast surgeries during her lifetime.
After several years—10, 15 (and even 20 years in some cases)—breast prostheses may need to be replaced with new ones.
Reasons for Prosthesis Replacement
- Cambio del tamaño y/o la forma del implante mamario o la mama.
- Capsular contracture: causes the breast to become hard, round, and, in some cases, painful.
- Prosthetic rupture: If the rupture of the prosthesis is confirmed by ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, replacement or at least removal of the implants is recommended as soon as possible, although it is not an emergency.
- Displacement: Silicone-coated prostheses can be displaced downward or sideways.
- Breast aging: This can result in a “rare” double-bubble breast shape due to the breast slipping over the breast implant.
MMG Breast Surgery
Prosthesis Replacement
In general, polyurethane-coated implants tend to have fewer complications than silicone-coated implants. Dr. García Ceballos has extensive experience in implanting polyurethane implants.
Replacing an implant with an anatomical implant covered in silicone can increase the risk of implant rotation; in such cases, the use of anatomical polyurethane implants is recommended, as they eliminate the risk of rotation.
Dr. Garcia Ceballos is an expert in the placement of polyurethane breast implants, and currently, 95% of his patients choose this material. You can choose the type of prosthesis or material based on the information provided by your surgeon.
In some cases where the patient’s breast is excessively small, it may be advisable to provide additional protection for the new prosthesis by using a biological matrix to reduce the risk of visible wrinkles.
The Polytech brand guarantees a lifetime replacement warranty in the event of a rupture of the implant shell for silicone gel-filled implants. For implants covered with polyurethane foam, in addition to a lifetime replacement guarantee in the event of rupture of the implant shell, an additional warranty is offered for a free Polytech brand replacement breast implant for up to 10 years after implant placement in the event of grade III or IV capsular fibrosis or implant rotation/dislocation.
More information: Polytech
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and lasts approximately 1 to 2 hours. The doctor recommends replacing silicone-coated implants with polyurethane ones to minimize complications such as capsular contracture, displacement, and rotation as much as possible. In this case, the new implants may be larger or smaller than the ones being replaced.
Currently, Dr. Garcia Ceballos recommends the removal (capsulectomy) and analysis of the capsule in order to reduce the risk of capsular contracture with the new implant and to assess the risk of anaplastic giant cell lymphoma.
After the surgery, the patient must wear a postoperative bra and an elastic band for one month if silicone-coated implants are used, and only the postoperative bra if polyurethane-coated implants are used. An overnight hospital stay is usually required. Return to work will depend on the type of work performed; it can range from a few days after the procedure to 2 or 3 weeks.
These procedures usually result in more bleeding than the initial breast augmentation surgeries; this means it may be necessary to leave the drains in the breasts for a few days until fluid production has decreased enough for the body to reabsorb it.
The results are visible one month after the procedure, but it takes at least one year to see the final results.
The final results depend on each patient’s body and breast characteristics, as well as her individual preferences.
Follow-up treatments
Our mastopexy and breast lift procedures incorporate scar treatment using growth factors. growth factors. We also offer the option of laser laser treatment to the scars from the mastopexy surgery one week and one month after the procedure.
The combination of these two treatments improves the appearance and healing time of scars.
We carry out this intervention in Palma de Mallorca.
The price of the intervention is delivered after consulting with Dr. García Ceballos.
During the consultation you will be able to see before and after photos of cases similar to yours.
If you travel or consult us from anywhere in Spain, UK or Europe you can request your telematic consultation via Skype.
It is convenient to put yourself in the hands of a specialist in Plastic cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to carry out this type of intervention.
Our greatest asset is our customers
Postoperative replacement of the prosthesis is not very uncomfortable and usually does not hurt as much as a primary breast augmentation; drains are recommended to control bleeding and facilitate a faster recovery.
There is no set lifespan for breast implants. It is common to confuse the need for a revision surgery following breast augmentation with the lifespan of the implants, which refers to the length of time the implants remain intact.
Reoperation after breast augmentation may be due to other complications unrelated to the integrity of the implants, such as capsular contracture, implant displacement, sagging of the breasts over time, or the patient’s desire to change the shape and/or volume of her breasts.
The risks associated with prosthesis replacement or removal depend on the procedures performed in conjunction with explantation.
Before asking this question, we should consider what the best option is after the removal of breast prostheses. In this regard, it is important to address the needs of each patient. There is an option that we could describe as “healthy,” which would involve removing the implants and reconstructing the remaining breast without implants, and another option that would be “aesthetic” but “less healthy,” which would involve replacing them with new implants. This requires explanation and discussion with each patient. Thus, the most recommended implants are simply those that best suit each patient.
As mentioned above, there is an option that we could describe as “healthy,” which would involve removing the implants and reconstructing the remaining breast without implants, and another option that would be “aesthetic” but “less healthy,” which would involve replacing them with new implants. This requires explanation and discussion with each patient. Either option is always possible, depending on the needs of each patient.
Encapsulation is not, in and of itself, an indication for implant replacement unless it causes breast deformity or pain; in such cases, it is up to the patient to decide whether or not she is able to tolerate such deformity and/or pain.
The capsule is fibrous tissue that the body forms around the breast implant in response to the stimulus it represents. The capsule can contract to a greater or lesser degree, thereby deforming the implant and causing the breast to become hard and irregular. Definitive treatment involves surgical removal.
Dr. García Ceballos is a specialist in plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery. He is based in Palma de Mallorca. You can verify his credentials with SECPRE (Society of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery). It is advisable to entrust yourself to a specialist in reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery for this type of procedure.
