Quick Answer: At our Boston practice, the breast implant exchange cost typically ranges from $18,000 to $20,000. The final price depends on the complexity of your procedure and whether a breast lift, fat grafting, pocket repair, or soft-tissue support is needed.
A breast implant may be a fantastic way to rejuvenate your entire appearance by restoring proper proportion. When your body’s contour is in harmony, it can make you look longer, leaner, and more youthful. Even better, you will most likely feel more confident, energetic, and vital. It can truly be that powerful. But while the results of a breast augmentation are long-lasting, no device is lifelong. This is as true for a new hip joint as it is for a breast implant.
Most people in their 20s, however, don’t get a hip replacement, but they do get breast implants, which by their late 30s or early 40s may have gotten tired and developed a tear or leak, also known as an implant rupture. Furthermore, breast aesthetics are like fashion: constantly changing. So, even if your implants remain healthy, there is a high chance that the look that was desirable at 21 may not work for you now. For example, ten years ago, big breasts were en vogue, but today, patients want smaller breasts that fit a more athletic-looking physique. All of this is to say that I get a lot of questions from patients about the breast implant exchange cost. Here are some factors to think about.
Key Takeaways
- Breast implant exchange at our Boston practice typically costs $18,000 to $20,000, depending on surgical complexity.
- Your treatment plan may include a breast lift, fat grafting, pocket repair, capsule treatment, or soft-tissue support.
- An in-person examination is necessary to assess your implants, breast tissue, skin quality, and overall surgical needs.
- Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and some patients may require monitoring, replacement, removal, or additional surgery over time.
- You will receive a personalized written estimate after consultation outlining the recommended procedures and associated fees.
What is the Cost of a Breast Implant Exchange in Boston?
The cost of any aesthetic procedure, especially a breast implant exchange, is going to depend on your individual treatment plan. Switching out your current breast implants is not like changing a tire. Rarely is it a straight swap of your current implants for a new set that is the same size and shape. And even if you are keeping things the same, breast tissue is as affected by Father Time as the tissues on your face. Furthermore, if you’ve undergone:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Menopause
- Weight gain/loss
All of these factors can weaken the tissues of your chest so that they sag and are unable to hold your implant in its proper place. This can be particularly problematic if you’ve had your current implants for a decade or more, and you want to go smaller. So, most of my breast implant exchange procedures range from $18,000 to $20,000 depending on whether or not we add a:
- Breast Lift
- Fat Grafting to the Breast
- Soft Tissue Support
All of these options will be discussed with you in detail during your consultation.
What Can Affect the Cost of Breast Implant Exchange?
Because every breast implant exchange is different, the final cost will depend on your individual treatment plan. Factors that may affect your personalized estimate include:
- The type of breast implants selected
- Anesthesia and operating room requirements
- The complexity and length of the procedure
- A breast lift, if needed
- Fat grafting to improve shape or implant coverage
- Capsule or implant pocket repair
- Soft tissue support, such as GalaFLEX®
- Post-operative care recommended for your procedure
During your consultation, I will review your surgical needs and provide a personalized written estimate.
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
Why Breast Implant Exchange Costs Can Vary
No two breast implant exchange procedures are exactly alike. Your surgical plan may be relatively straightforward or may require additional techniques to achieve a safe, balanced result. For example:
- Straightforward implant exchange: The existing implant pocket and breast tissue remain supportive, allowing the implants to be replaced without major additional work.
- Exchange with a breast lift: Patients who want smaller implants or have stretched, sagging tissue may also need a lift to reshape and support the breasts.
- Complex breast revision: Implant rupture, capsular contracture, implant displacement, or a stretched pocket may require capsule treatment, pocket repair, fat grafting, or soft tissue support.
Breast Implant Exchange Consultation
Every single body in the world is unique. Even identical twins may require different treatment plans. This is why it is such a smart idea for you to schedule an in-person consultation, preferably with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, such as myself, who specializes in breast revision surgery. During our meeting, we will dive deep into what you no longer like about the appearance of your breasts. We’ll review photos of the “look” that you want to achieve, and I will ask in-depth questions about how your body reacted to your initial surgery, as I’m looking to establish your individual baseline of healing, as this may affect our “scar” strategy. Then, I will perform a thorough physical exam to assess your:
- Skin tone & texture
- Degree of sagging, if any
- Nipple position in relation to inframammary fold
- Upper pole fullness
Together, we will discuss the ideal treatment plan for creating your ideal outcome.
-
- Real patient
Benefits of a Breast Lift
It is not uncommon for a breast implant exchange procedure to involve a breast lift. This is a surgery in which I lift and tighten the breast envelope to deliver your desired shape. Generally, as mentioned, most of my revision breast surgery patients want to go smaller. A breast lift allows me to create the support structure required to hold your new implant in its proper position over time. Many patients are averse to the idea of a lift as they are afraid of scars on the breast. I practice precise surgical techniques that put as little tension as possible on your tissue, which is one of the things that can cause a raised scar.
Furthermore, scars on the breast generally heal extremely well. I also offer my Boston area patients the full range of cutting-edge scar treatment therapies to aid and promote excellent healing. Most of my breast lift patients are so happy with their result that they don’t even notice the scar after a year. In those with severely compromised breast tissue, I may also recommend adding soft tissue support (STS).
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
Understanding GalaFLEX®
GalaFLEX® has been a true game changer in my practice. It is a mesh soft tissue support that I use with many breast procedures to create an internal bra of support. Some patients with mild to moderate weakening of the breast tissue may be able to forego a lift and combine their breast augmentation with GalaFLEX®.
GalaFLEX® is made from a naturally occurring biopolymer that resembles a mesh. Once placed around the implant, your body produces collagen that grows through the scaffold. Over time, GalaFLEX® dissolves, leaving reinforced tissue that has been reported to be two to four times stronger than the original tissue.
GalaFLEX® is FDA-cleared for reinforcing weakened soft tissue, but its use in breast surgery is off-label. FDA has not determined its safety and effectiveness for breast surgery, and no surgical mesh is cleared or approved specifically for breast augmentation or reconstruction. This is why it is important to discuss the benefits, risks, and alternatives with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Risks and Alternatives to Breast Implant Exchange
While breast implant exchange can address changes in implant size, position, condition, or appearance, every surgical procedure involves potential risks. Depending on your individual health and treatment plan, these may include:
- Bleeding or infection
- Scarring, asymmetry, or changes in breast sensation
- Capsular contracture, implant rupture, or implant displacement
- The need for additional surgery in the future
Breast implant exchange is not your only option. Some patients may be candidates for implant removal without replacement, a breast lift without new implants, or fat grafting. During your consultation, I will discuss the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives so that you can make a well-informed decision.
FDA identifies capsular contracture, reoperation, implant removal, rupture, asymmetry, scarring, pain, and infection among the possible complications associated with breast implants.
Amortize Cost Over Time
Revision breast surgery may be more expensive than your original breast augmentation. This can lead to sticker shock for some patients. I understand. But you need to remember that the goal of any well-executed breast implant exchange is to deliver a long-lasting result. Even if your treatment plan is on the high end in terms of breast revision cost, you must amortize this expense over the decade or more in which you will enjoy your new body contour.
To find out more about revision breast surgery, or any other surgical or nonsurgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.