Breast augmentation surgeries with silicone implants are considered the most frequently performed aesthetic surgeries in the world. In fact, each year more than 1.8 million breast augmentation surgeries are performed around the world. Breast implant technology has advanced significantly in recent years (both in the structure of the filling gel inside the implant and in the outer shell). One of the most significant innovations of the past decade is the B-lite lightweight implant.

 

Implant replacement - before and after photos

Implant Replacement Surgery – Brief Overview

Type of anesthesia
General anesthesia
Duration of the operation
The average duration of the operation is about 20-30 minutes.
Pain level
Slight pain
Return to normal
2–5 days
Cost of implant replacement surgery
18,000 ₪ – 25,000 ₪

Breast Implants Are Not for Life

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), breast implants are not intended to last a lifetime. The lifespan of breast implants varies from patient to patient and cannot be predicted.

According to published studies, the estimation is that in most cases, implants will remain intact for 10–15 years. After that, the risk of rupture and leakage increases. It is recommended not to wait for a rupture to occur, but to replace the implants while they are still intact. Therefore, the currently accepted recommendation is to consider implant replacement surgery approximately 10 years after the initial breast augmentation.

It should be noted that, in general, it is recommended to maintain regular medical follow-up that includes a breast surgeon examination, mammography, breast ultrasound and MRI. This way you can obtain important information about your breast tissue and the integrity of the implants in your body. If there is a suspicion of rupture in any of the imaging tests, it is recommended to contact a plastic surgeon who specializes in this field.

What Are the Reasons for Performing Implant Replacement Surgery?

The reasons for replacing breast implants can be divided into medical and aesthetic reasons.
Implant replacement surgery is performed in several situations:
• Change in shape or drooping of the breast (usually after pregnancies, births and breastfeeding).
• Wear or rupture of the implant (a relatively rare phenomenon) which is usually diagnosed with an ultrasound or MRI scan.
• Grade 3–4 capsular contracture (tightening of the connective tissue around the implant).
• The patient’s wish to change breast size or improve the aesthetic result.

The Consultation and Preparation for Surgery

Implant replacement surgery is a common and familiar procedure, but it is a surgery that requires great experience and high skill from the surgeon. In order to ensure that the surgery will proceed properly and will be performed in a manner tailored personally to the patient and her body, a careful, thorough and professional preliminary characterization process must be carried out.

It is important to make a decision about the most appropriate procedure, taking into account the medical-physical condition of the patient on the one hand, and the expected results on the other. All this while making a precise selection of the new implants.
Before the consultation, it is recommended to bring the imaging tests that have been performed – breast ultrasound, mammography and/or MRI. During the meeting, a comprehensive examination will be conducted and expectations will be aligned in accordance with the patient’s wishes and aspirations. The best surgical intervention will be chosen accordingly.

Types of Implants

The patient and the surgeon have a wide range of options for choosing the type, size and weight of the implant. This is a complex choice that requires great experience from the surgeon, while taking into account the expectations and wishes of the woman.

Modern implants contain a solid (cohesive) silicone gel that maintains its shape even in the event of rupture. Implant shells are more advanced and better prevent leakage or “bleeding” of silicone through them. The shape of implants can be divided into two main groups: round implants and anatomical implants. The outer shell of the implants can be smooth or have various degrees of texturing.

A very important variable that should be mentioned every time we talk about breast implants is the weight of the implant. Implants essentially behave like a weight in the breasts, aggravating and accelerating undesirable phenomena of sagging and drooping of the breasts. Today, ™B-Lite lightweight implants can be chosen. The lightweight implant offers several significant advantages in breast augmentation surgeries and in implant replacement surgeries. Using the lightweight implant, it is possible to give the breast the desired shape and size with a natural result, and this at a significantly lower weight.

Implant Replacement Surgery – An Opportunity to Change and Improve the Existing Situation

Patients who choose to undergo a procedure for implant removal and replacement with new implants can take this opportunity to re-select the characteristics of the implants to be used.

The matter of choosing the new implant is not a trivial issue. A change in the volume, weight and profile of the new implants has great significance for the result that will be obtained. For example, replacement with an implant that is too small may lead to significant excess skin, empty breasts and a falling and drooping effect of the breast. Excessive enlargement of the implant can also lead to unwanted problems.

It is recommended to consult with a plastic surgeon who specializes in this field. It should be noted that if breast sagging exists before the surgery and a breast lift surgery is not performed, the sagging will remain as it is even after the surgery.

Implant Replacement Surgery and Breast Lift

If the breasts are sagging and there is a large amount of excess skin, or when the patient is interested in significantly reducing the volume of the implants, it will be possible to combine a breast lift with the implant replacement surgery. In this surgery, excess skin is removed, the nipples and areolas are repositioned, and the breast is reshaped.

In implant replacement surgery combined with a breast lift, the breast lift can be external or internal (without external scars), depending on the patient’s wishes and the degree of sagging. Dr. Govrin has developed several unique breast lift surgery techniques that allow the breast to remain upright and firm over time.

Breast Implant Replacement Cost

The cost of implant replacement surgery incorporates many components. Factors influencing the cost of surgery include the quality of the implants, the quality of the medical team and the hospital, the surgeon’s experience and skill. In addition, the price will vary according to the surgical method and the complexity of the surgery. The price range for implant replacement surgery is between: ₪16,000 – ₪26,000.

Important tip: the surgeon’s experience and professionalism should be the leading parameters when comparing prices of implant replacement surgeries.

Implant Replacement – The Course of the Surgery

Implant replacement surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes about 40 minutes. The decision about the location of the incision usually depends on the existing scars on the breast and according to the reason for which the surgery is being performed. The old implants will be removed and an assessment of the condition of the pocket in which the implant was located will be carried out. After rinsing, cleaning and adjusting/rebuilding the pocket, the new implant will be positioned (over or under the muscle). If there is a need to treat the capsule, the surgeon will perform the necessary actions at this stage.

The new implants will be inserted, and in cases where there is a need to reshape the breast, such as in cases combined with a breast lift, excess skin will be removed, the nipple and areola will be repositioned, and the breast will be reshaped. Closure of the pocket will be done in layers with absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed. The patient will be transferred to the recovery room and within a few hours will be able to return home.

Recovery

Recovery from implant replacement surgery is usually quick and easy. You can return to routine within two to three days.

Here are some key points for recovery after breast implant replacement surgery:
• You must take antibiotics orally several times a day according to the prescription given by Dr. Govrin.
• Painkillers can be used during the first days as needed.
• The day after surgery, you can shower daily and even wash and rinse the breasts and the suture area.
• You can return to routine activity within two to three days, but you must avoid sports activity for a month for good recovery from the surgery.
• After surgery, it is recommended to use Dr. Govrin’s Triple Treatment series. This series was developed based on Dr. Govrin’s extensive experience, and it helps improve skin texture, assists in faster healing of scars, and helps preserve the results of the surgery for a longer term.
• It is recommended to wear a supportive sports bra. A supportive bra is of utmost importance for women who have undergone breast augmentation or implant replacement surgery. A large breast has great weight. The weight of the breast stretches the tissues and can cause sagging and drooping of the breast. A supportive bra with wide and tight straps will help support the breast and preserve its shape and beauty over time. Dr. Govrin will recommend a bra suitable for your breasts.
• Signs that require contacting the clinic – fever above 38 degrees, severe redness in the breast or its surroundings, sudden swelling of the breast, fluid discharge from the surgical wound, or sudden hardening after the breast has already softened.

Risks, Complications and Possible Side Effects of Implant Replacement Surgery

In experienced and skilled hands, side effects after implant replacement surgeries are rare, but may manifest as pain, bleeding, infection, asymmetry, impaired sensation and a coarse scar. Additionally, phenomena related to the implant may occur, such as folds, implant rotation, hardening of the capsule around the implant, wear and rupture of the implant shell.

As mentioned, these phenomena are rare and most of them are preventable, mainly if the surgery is performed by a surgeon with extensive knowledge and experience in this type of surgery.

It is important to remember that breast surgeries give the breast a beautiful and suitable shape and size, but they do not support the breast and do not prevent it from sagging over time. Additionally, phenomena of weight gain or loss, pregnancies and breastfeeding will also affect the size and shape of the breast.

Periodic Imaging and Follow-up

Every woman should undergo a breast examination by a specialist breast surgeon once a year. Women over the age of 40 are required to perform mammography and breast ultrasound once a year or every two years, according to the decision of the attending physician. At the clinics of Doctor Govrin, breast clinics are held where every woman undergoing surgery can schedule follow-up by breast ultrasound. The examination result is transferred to the medical file at the clinic. The examination is partially subsidized by the health funds. For further explanation and to obtain a referral, you can contact the clinics.

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    Dr. Jacky Govrin
    Expert plastic surgeon

    A specialist plastic surgeon, one of the most senior and prominent plastic surgery specialists in Israel.
    Dr. Govrin is a graduate of the Technion Medical School in Haifa, completed his residency at Rambam Hospital and trained at leading medical centers in Europe and the USA.

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    Dr. Orel Govrin
    Expert plastic surgeon

    A specialist plastic surgeon and groundbreaking researcher, a second generation of excellence in plastic surgery.
    Dr. Govrin, a summa cum laude graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University, specialized in the Department of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at Ichilov Medical Center, Tel Aviv.

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