What is breast implant revision?
It is the revision breast surgery that replaces, repositions or removes implants placed in a previous operation. It is not a first-time procedure: it starts from an already-operated breast, with a tissue capsule around the implant and a modified anatomy, so planning is different —and often more careful— than that of an initial augmentation.
The reasons are aesthetic or medical. Aesthetic ones include wanting to change size (larger or smaller), improving shape after pregnancy or weight loss, or correcting drooping that has appeared over time. Medical ones include capsular contracture (hardening and deformation from the capsule), suspected or confirmed implant rupture, rippling (visible folds), implant malposition or displacement, and simply wanting the implants removed without placing new ones (explant). Each scenario has its own technique, decided at the assessment.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
- Implant exchange: the current implant is removed and a new one placed, with the chance to adjust profile (projection) and plane (for example, moving from subglandular to submuscular / dual plane) to improve shape or achieve better implant coverage.
- Capsulectomy: treatment of the tissue capsule around the implant. It may be partial, total or en bloc (removing capsule and implant as a single piece), depending on the reason for revision and the surgical findings. It is the key manoeuvre in capsular contracture.
- Removal without replacement (explant): the implants are taken out without placing others. When the breast is left with excess skin or drooping, it is usually combined with a mastopexy in the same operation to reshape the breast with the patient’s own tissue.
- Malposition correction: pocket readjustment with capsulorrhaphy (sutures that reduce or reposition the space) when the implant has shifted downward, toward the centre or to the sides.
- Combination with fat transfer: in selected cases, the patient’s own fat is grafted to soften visible edges or improve coverage, especially in thin patients or after an explant.
How is it performed?
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia in a hospital operating room. Its duration varies —usually 1.5 to 3 hours— because it depends on the findings: a simple exchange is shorter than a total capsulectomy combined with a lift. It is usually outpatient or a short hospital stay, and temporary drains are often placed when the capsule is worked on.
Access to the implant and capsule is gained through the previous scar (or a new route when needed), the planned manoeuvre is carried out —removal, exchange, capsulectomy or repositioning— and closure is done in layers. Before surgery an imaging study (ultrasound or MRI) may be requested to assess the state of the implant, especially if rupture is suspected.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
- People with previous implants who wish to change size, shape or plane, or correct a result that no longer satisfies them.
- Signs of capsular contracture: hardening, deformation, elevation or pain of the operated breast.
- Suspected or confirmed implant rupture, visible rippling or implant displacement.
- Those who wish to remove their implants permanently, with or without an associated lift.
- Good general health, no contraindications to surgery, and realistic expectations reviewed in detail at the assessment.
Recommended post-surgical treatments
For a more comfortable recovery and to protect scar quality —which in a revision usually reuses the previous mark— Dr. Arístides may recommend manual lymphatic drainage, hyperbaric chamber and, later, laser treatment over the mature scar. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
The cost of a breast implant revision is not set as a fixed figure because it depends directly on what each case requires: a simple exchange is not the same as a total capsulectomy combined with a lift. It is therefore determined at your in-person consultation, where the state of your implants, the capsule and your current anatomy are reviewed. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
To go deeper before or after your consultation: How long do breast implants last? The 10-year myth — part of the informational guide series reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Days 1–3Swelling, tenderness and a post-surgical bra; drain management if placed; relative rest with limited arm mobility.
- Weeks 1–2Discomfort decreases; sutures and drains removed according to progress; desk work can resume as medically advised.
- Weeks 3–4Marked improvement in swelling; high-impact and upper-body exercise remain restricted.
- Weeks 6–8Full return to exercise is generally authorised according to the technique performed and individual progress.
- Months 3–6The shape stabilises; in exchanges, the new implant settles into its definitive position.
Frequently asked questions
How much does breast implant revision or removal cost in Puebla?
The price is defined at your in-person consultation, not as a fixed figure, because it depends on what the case requires: a simple exchange, a total capsulectomy or an explant combined with a lift have different costs. At the consultation the state of your implants and capsule is reviewed to give you a concrete quote.
How often should breast implants be replaced?
There is no fixed rule requiring replacement every set number of years. Follow-up and control studies are advised, and an implant is reviewed or changed when there is a medical indication —such as contracture, rupture or discomfort— or when the patient wishes to modify her result, not on an automatic schedule.
What is capsular contracture and how is it corrected?
It is the hardening and deformation of the breast caused by the tissue capsule the body forms around the implant. It is corrected by treating that capsule with a capsulectomy (partial, total or en bloc), usually together with implant exchange or removal. The exact technique is decided by the degree and the surgical findings.
Can I remove my implants without placing new ones?
Yes. Removal without replacement (explant) is a valid option. When taking out the implant leaves the breast with excess skin or drooping, combining it with a mastopexy in the same surgery is usually recommended to reshape the breast with your own tissue. It is assessed case by case.
Does revision surgery leave a new scar?
In most cases the scar from the previous surgery is reused, so no new mark is added. In some situations a different route or an extension of the existing incision may be needed. The final visibility of the scar varies with each patient and their healing process.
How do I know if my implant is ruptured?
The suspicion is confirmed with an imaging study, usually ultrasound or MRI. Some signs that prompt revision are changes in shape or size, hardening or discomfort, but many ruptures cause no obvious symptoms, which is why periodic follow-up is recommended.
Is recovery harder than a primary augmentation?
It depends on the technique. A simple exchange has a recovery similar to an augmentation; a total capsulectomy or an explant with a lift involve a somewhat more demanding recovery and, often, the temporary use of drains. The plan is explained in detail at the assessment. Results may vary.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.