What do you know about Breast Implant Revision Surgery?

POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH 2022-06-23

Having a breast aesthetic surgery is not a decision to take lightly. Health and wellbeing, aesthetic results, associated costs, and possible complications are some of the reasons why women take up to 7 years to opt-in for breast surgery.

One of the considerations is the fact that breast implants may need to be replaced over time. After breast implant surgery, your implants should be assessed annually by a qualified physician, who will alert of any health concerns.

What is breast implant revision surgery?

Breast implant revision surgery is a procedure in which previously implanted breast implants are replaced by new implants. It is estimated that up to 30% of breast augmentation surgeries are revision surgeries. 1

What are the most common reasons for breast revision surgery?

If you have heard of the “10-year myth” (having to replace implants after 10 years), please rest assured! Though not intended for lifetime, breast implants do not come with an expiration date. So, the necessity of breast implant replacement after a defined period of time is a myth.
However, over time, changes in the woman’s body or the occurrence of complications may require breast surgery revision.

Life changes
Life events and lifestyle can impact the initial aesthetic result. Pregnancies and breastfeeding, weight gain or loss, are common reasons that can impact the breast tissue and may result in sagging or changes in the aesthetics of the augmented breasts. 
One of the most common reasons for women to seek breast implant revision surgery is the desire for an improved aesthetic look, changing the size or shape of the implant or improving the breast sagging. 2, 3

Complications
Complications may also require breast surgery revision. That is another reason why maintaining your annual checkups is so important. 
The most common complication is capsular contracture11, where the natural capsule formed around the implant contracts and may cause discomfort and pain and impair the aesthetic result. Capsular contracture occurrence has been related to the implant surface. In implants with smooth surface the occurrence is higher compared with microtextured surface and significantly higher than micro-polyurethane covered implants. 4-10

Among other complications, implant rupture and implant malposition are related to revision surgeries.11

What is a commercial warranty and why is it important for your revision surgery?

Several breast implant manufacturers offer commercial warranty programmes to cover implant replacement in cases of certain complications that are not covered under statutory warranty.

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the available warranty programmes and their terms, as they vary among manufacturers.

POLYTECH’s IMPLANTS OF EXCELLENCE warranty programme was developed to increase satisfaction and boost the confidence of patients choosing POLYTECH implants. The IMPLANTS OF EXCELLENCE programme offers the following benefits:

Free exchange of implants in the event of a material-related loss of shell integrity (including contralateral breast adjustment in all cases diagnosed by a surgeon):

  • For lifetime, for all breast implants, with the following surfaces: MESMO®, Microthane®, POLYtxt®, POLYsmoooth™
  • For lifetime, for gluteal implants

Breast implant replacement in the event of Baker III or IV capsular contracture:

  • Up to 10 years post-surgery for all breast implants with the following surfaces: MESMO®, POLYtxt®, POLYsmoooth™
  • For lifetime, including rotation, for all breast implants with a Microthane® surface

Note that registration to IMPLANTS OF EXCELLENCE within 6 months post operation and participation in the yearly survey are mandatory to be eligible to the benefits of the programme.

Want to learn more?

Your journey through breast aesthetics POLYTECH Patient Pathway™ 
Read about IMPLANTS OF EXCELLENCE 
Go to our Clinic finder  

 

Sources:

1 https://cdn.theaestheticsociety.org/media/statistics/aestheticplasticsurgerynationaldatabank-2020stats.pdf 
2 https://www.verywellhealth.com/breast-revision-surgery-2709951  
3 https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-implant-revision#:~:text=What%20is%20breast%20implant%20revision,concurrent%20breast%20lift%20or%20reduction 
4  Vazquez, G., Pellon, A. (2007) Polyurethane-coated siliconegel breast implants used for 18 years. Aesth. Plast. Surg. 31, 330-336 
5  Handel, N., Cordray, T., Gutierrez, J., Jensen, J.A. (2006) A long-term study of outcomes, complications, and patient satisfaction with breast implants. PRS 117, 757 et seq. 
6  Handel, N. (2006) Long-term safety and efficacy of polyurethane foam-covered breast implants. Aesth. Surg. J 26, 265- 274 
7  Handel, N., Silverstein, M.J., Jensen, J.A., Collins, A., Zierk K. (1991) Comparative experience with smooth and polyurethane breast implants using the Kaplan-Meier method of survival analysis. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 88, 475-481 
8  Kjoller, K., Holmich, L.R., Jacobsen, P.H., Friis, S., Fryzek, J., McLaughlin, J.K., Lipworth, L., Henriksen, T.F., Jorgensen, S., Bittmann, S., Olsen, J.H. (2002) Epidemiological investigation of local complications after cosmetic breast implant surgery in Demark. Annals of Plastic Surgery 48(3), 229-237 
9  Malata, C.M., Feldberg, L., Coleman, D.J., Foo, I.T., Scarpe, D.T. (1997) Textured or smooth implants for breast augmentation? Three-year follow-up of a prospective randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Plastic Surgery 50(2), 99-105 
10  Tebbetts, J.B. (2001) A surgical perspective from two decades of breast augmentation. Clinics in Plastic Surgery 28(3), 425- 434
11 https://www.fda.gov/files/medical%20devices/published/Update-on-the-Safety-of-Silicone-Gel-Filled-Breast-Implants-%282011%29.pdf