Cosmetic surgery is done for an assortment of reasons and no matter your reasons, you want the results to look good and be something you are comfortable with. However, sometimes follow-ups or corrections are needed. A breast implant exchange in Orange County (also called a breast implant revision) can help correct various issues with your existing breast implants.
Reasons For a Breast Implant Exchange
There are many reasons you may want to have a breast implant exchange performed.
- Upgrade Your Appearance: you may want to have an implant revision simply to change the size of your implants to adjust your overall look. You also may want to have this done due to having implants that were made using older technology, and you want to change to newer implants and the advantages these improvements offer.
- Correct Capsular Contracture: this condition is a common reason to get a breast implant exchange. Such a physical reaction occurs due to implants in the body, including cosmetic and other modifications such as joint implants. This condition can become uncomfortable and cause your breasts to become painful to the touch and also negatively impact your physical appearance. An implant exchange can correct this issue.
- Replace Ruptured or Damaged Implants: if one or both of your breast implants become damaged or start leaking an implant exchange should be done to remove the damaged implant as soon as possible.
- Correct Appearance Issues: common appearance issues that can require an implant exchange include implants that have become wrinkled, replacing implants that have moved out of their correct position and correct surgery issues such as implants being placed too close together.
Advantages of a Breast Implant Exchange
There are many advantages to having a breast implant exchange to correct any existing issues you may be encountering. In cases of aesthetics, a breast implant exchange allows you to change the size and shape of your breast to fit your desired appearance. Also, you can correct issues with appearance where the breast implant has become unsightly or moved. Health concerns such as capsular contracture are painful and correcting this issue can greatly improve your quality of life. Another advantage is that the recovery time for a breast implant exchange is faster than the initial breast implant cosmetic procedure.
Breast Implant Replacement
A common misconception is that breast implants should be replaced due to aging. Breast implants don’t need to be replaced every 10 years and don’t have an expiration date. If you are not having any health concerns and are pleased with your appearance, you don’t need to have your implants replaced or exchanged on a set timetable. However, you should still keep an eye on your implants to make sure they are in good condition. Saline implants can easily be checked simply by checking your appearance. Any reduction or change in shape can indicate a leak. Note that, due to containing saltwater, a leaking saline implant is not a danger to your health, but you will naturally want to get the damaged implant replaced simply to correct your appearance. For silicone implants, an MRI every 2 years will keep you updated on any concerns.
The Surgery and Recovery
If you have a breast implant exchange done, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia and can typically be completed in one to three hours, depending on complexity and any other needs such as scar tissue removal (due to capsular contracture) or if a breast lift is also being performed during the procedure. Due to anesthesia, the procedure itself is painless, and luckily the recovery time tends to be less painful than when you originally had breast implant surgery performed. Recovery itself can vary depending on the complexity of the surgery and how well you typically respond to such procedures.
Swelling, soreness, and tiredness are common symptoms during the first two to three days of recovery. After this initial recovery period, you can return to work and common activity but do reduce your workload and general physical activity for two weeks to allow for a full recovery. Light activities such as walking are suitable but do avoid raising your arms over your head or lifting anything over ten pounds while healing. The outcome of your surgery can take time to become visible due to recovery. The majority of your swelling should reduce within three months and the muscles will relax as well. But it can take up to a year for swelling to fully go away. Any surgery scars should also fade within a year as well.
Final Thoughts
The goal of cosmetic surgery is to improve your self-image and give you the appearance you want. If your breast implants are not doing that, a breast implant exchange is advisable. If you are having health issues with your implants, or they have become damaged, you don’t necessarily have to get them removed as an implant exchange can correct many of these concerns. If you’re having problems, contact a medical professional to see what your next best step is.
