Breast Implant Removal and Replacement Recovery Tips

Every patient recovers from surgery at their own pace. However, as a rule, breast implant removal and replacement recovery tends to be much easier than initial breast augmentation surgery.

If you are considering breast implant removal surgery with replacement, read on for our top 5 recovery tips.

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Recovery From Breast Implant Removal and Replacement: 5 Tips

1. Clear your schedule for a few days.

Depending on the circumstances of your procedure, you should plan on taking at least a few days to one week off from work. Likewise, don’t plan on doing anything big for the same amount of time.

Taking it easy and slow at home is recommended. Although you had your breast implants removed and then immediately replaced, you still underwent a serious medical procedure. Give your body adequate time to rest and recuperate.

2. Give your future self a break (and plan ahead).

For most patients, breast implant removal recovery is not very difficult. However, why not give yourself a break during this tender time?

One thing you can do is prepare a few meals ahead of time and store them in your fridge or freezer. Your surgeon will want you on a healthy diet during your breast explant recovery, so try to make them both tasty and nutritious.

While you will certainly be able to get up and do things while you are in your recovery period, having these make-ahead meals will just make things easier.

3. Get cozy and comfy.

Have an area set up at home where you can sleep and relax. Many people set up in their living room where they can be with family, have the TV nearby, and be comfortable.

Your breast tissue will be tender and the area slightly inflamed after you remove breast implants. Make sure you have loose, soft clothing that opens in the front (so you don’t have to stretch your arms to bring tops over your chest and head).

Finally, sleep according to your surgeon’s aftercare instructions. After many types of plastic surgery, patients need to sleep a certain way so as not to deter the way their body heals or potentially harm their results.

Most breast augmentation patients will need to sleep on their backs and be slightly elevated from the waist up. You may need to wear a compression garment, like a surgical bra, as well to help your healing process.

4. Don’t rush the recovery process.

Take this time to heal, and don’t put pressure on yourself to jump right back into the swing of things. You’ll need to refrain from heavy lifting and physical exertion for several weeks after removing breast implants and having them replaced.

Allow yourself to ease back into exercise once your surgeon says it’s okay. Start slow with short walks, then transition to movements that only affect the lower body. Finally, with clearance from your surgeon, you can move on to chest and arm exercises.

5. Keep an eye on the development of scar tissue.

Basically all plastic surgery leaves scarring, but scars can have a mind of their own.

Even if you had nice flat scars after your initial surgery, especially if the same incisions were used for your breast implant revision surgery, you may have a bit of extra scar tissue. When scar tissue hardens too much, it can leave bumpy raised areas.

If this happens, be sure to connect with your plastic surgeon about the possibility of using scar massage, silicone scar sheets, and other methods to combat raised, noticeable scars.

Average Breast Implant Removal & Replacement Recovery Time

The average recovery time for breast implant removal and replacement is around one to two weeks.

If your initial implants and new implants were both placed behind the pectoral muscles, your surgery recovery will be gentler and shorter overall because those muscles will already be stretched. In this case, many patients are able to return to many of their normal activities after just a few days.

Is Breast Implant Revision Recovery Easier?

Yes, typically, breast implant removal and replacement comes with an easier and faster recovery experience. This is largely because the muscles in the chest will already be stretched out when your implants are replaced.

Muscle stretching tends to be the most painful part of recovery after initial breast implant surgery.

With that said, if you had an initial surgery that did not place your implants below your pectoral muscles (and instead they were placed on top of the muscle), then your muscles will need to stretch post-revision surgery.

This may cause some soreness and other normal symptoms. Therefore, the recovery process after revision surgery may indeed be a bit longer and involve more discomfort.

FAQ: Breast Implant Removal and Replacement

Can breast implants be removed and replaced at the same time?

Yes, breast implant removal and breast implant replacement are two procedures that are often performed in one single cosmetic surgery.

How long does implant removal and replacement take?

This depends on the patient, their anatomy, and the circumstances of the surgery. For most patients, the surgery will be around one to two hours.

Does breast implant replacement surgery leave scars?

All invasive surgery leaves scars. The good news is that in many cases, your plastic surgeon will be able to use the same incision sites used for your initial breast augmentation.

In this case, the sites may be slightly more noticeable after surgery because the incisions have been used several times now. But they should fade and flatten as time goes on.

What side effects can breast implant removal cause?

After breast implant removal side effects may include pain, swelling, bruising, changes in breast shape or size, scarring, loss of sensation, and potential complications like infection or bleeding.

Request an Initial Consultation With Dr. Sieber Today

If you are considering a breast explant surgery (implant removal) and replacement, you’ll want a top surgeon to perform your procedure.

Double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber specializes in breast surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal and replacement, and breast lift surgery.

To learn more about explant surgery recovery and other stages of the procedure, give our San Francisco practice a call today to set up an appointment with Dr. Sieber.

This is a great opportunity to discuss breast implant removal cost, look at breast implant removal before and after photos, and talk about your goals for care. Contact us today!

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/six-reasons-to-get-your-breast-implants-replaced