Can I Change Implant Sizes After My Initial Breast Augmentation?

November 16, 2016 / Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Revision

A question I hear rather frequently from patients considering breast augmentation is whether or not they will be able to exchange their implants for a bigger or smaller size should they desire to do so later down the road. While wanting to change implant sizes is relatively rare, there are a few reasons why this may be requested. For example, some women don’t feel their breasts were enlarged enough initially and want to further increase volume. Others feel the original breast implants they received are too large (though this issue is not common). Still others simply find that their cosmetic goals are not the same as they were when the breast augmentation was initially performed, and they wish to reflect their current aesthetic desires.

No matter the reason for wanting to change implant sizes, the answer to the question posed in the title of this post is, “Yes, breast implants can be exchanged for a different size following the initial augmentation.” To do so, a procedure referred to as breast revision surgery can be conducted to remove the old implants and replace them with new ones, often using the same incision lines from the original surgery. In addition to implant exchange, other issues that can be corrected with breast revision surgery include:

• Misshapen breasts and/or breast asymmetries
• Implant malplacement/positioning
• Shifted, leaking, and/or ruptured implants
• Rippling, capsular contracture, and/or other implant complications

If you wish to change the size of your breast implants, or if you have any other concerns associated with the look and feel of your breasts following a previous augmentation, I encourage you to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is highly experienced in breast surgery. Following a thorough assessment of your specific needs and goals, he or she should be able formulate—and perform—an individualized treatment plan that helps you achieve the look you desire.

– Christopher P. Godek, MD, FACS