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Breast Implant Replacement or Removal
There are many reasons a woman may decide to replace or remove her implants, whether for medical reasons or concerns about the integrity of your implants, we're here to help.
See our before and after photos

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Home » Cosmetic Surgery » Breast Surgery » Breast Implant Replacement or Removal
What's on this page
Last Reviewed July 16th 2020
Related Cosmetic Surgery
Many women feel after a number of years of having breast implants that they would like to replace them or remove them. There are many reasons a woman may decide to replace or remove her implants, from medical reasons such as capsular contracture, ruptured implants, concerns about the integrity of your implants and implants that have sunk below the natural breast crease (bottoming out). There are also cosmetic reasons such as wishing to increase or decrease the size of the implant or simply wanting to remove them altogether in favour of a natural chest. As your body ages and following childbirth, implants that were once a perfect fit may no longer suit your body shape.
The Private Clinic is a well-known provider of breast implant replacement or removal surgery. We have a reputation as a trusted cosmetics provider following the PIP breast implant scandal that affected so many of our competitors. Breast implant replacement still continues to be one of our most commonly performed procedures. Our breast surgeons ensure care, sensitivity and discretion are given to such a big decision. At The Private Clinic, our leading UK consultant plastic surgeons are here to guide you in making the best choice in breast removal and replacement surgery (breast redo’s), mastopexy and auto augmentation.
Procedure Time
1 - 2 hours
Driving
1 week
Sexual Activity
4 - 6 weeks
Travel
6 weeks
Support Garments
Surgical Bra to be worn for 6 weeks
Anaesthetic Type
General Anaesthetic
Washing
1 week
Back to work
1 - 2 weeks
Recovery Time
6 weeks
Sleeping
Sleeping elevated on back for 6 weeks
Hospital Stay
Day case
Up & Mobile
1 day
Exercise
4 - 6 weeks
Final Results
6 - 12 months
What surgical options are available for breast implant removal or replacement?
Breast Implant Removal – Your breast implants are removed and no further surgery is performed.
Breast Implant Replacement or Breast re-augmentation – Your original implants are removed but are then replaced by new implants which can be the same size, smaller(breast implant downsizing), bigger or a different shape such as tear drop.
Breast Capsulectomy – Capsular contracture can cause pain and distortion in the appearance of your bust. A capsulectomy procedure removes the capsule which is the lining around your implant and then you can either have the original implant removed or replaced.
Enbloc – An enbloc procedure is when the implant and the capsule are removed at the same time with the implant still inside the intact scar tissue capsule. It can be difficult to guarantee that a total enbloc is possible as in some cases the capsule tissue is very thin or tightly attached to the chest wall, in which case a breast capsulectomy may be performed instead. Your breast surgeon will be able to discuss your options with you in more detail at a consultation.
Breast Implant Removal with Uplift (Mastopexy) – This combined procedure may be recommended if your surgeon feels your breast tissue has stretched. The procedure will ensure that after the implant is removed your nipple is lifted back up to its natural position.
Breast Auto-Augmentation – A breast auto augmentation is a great option for patients who wish to remove their implants but still wish to retain volume. Your surgeon will use your existing breast tissue to reshape the breast giving you fullness in the upper bust along with an uplifted appearance.
Why would patients have their Breast Implants removed?
Toula’s Patient Story
Patient Toula found herself feeling unhappy with the size of her breast implants following surgery at another clinic. She decided to have a Breast Re-Augmentation or Breast Implant Replacement/Exchange with Mr Navid Jallali at The Private Clinic in Harley Street.
“I was very conscious of how big I felt, I never wore outfits that would accentuate them but I now find myself buying clothes that I maybe wouldn’t have before!”
Read Toula’s patient story here.
as seen in




Before & After
Our expert surgeons and medical staff offer leading breast surgery procedures.
Take a look at the Before and After photos to see how we have helped change our patients’ lives.
What to Expect
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Consultation
-
Pre-Operation
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The Procedure
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Aftercare
The Consultation
Your implant removal or replacement procedure will begin with a consultation with one of our expert breast surgeons at a clinic of your choice.
At your consultation you will be able to discuss your concerns and find out your options to see which approach will be most suitable for you. When it comes to replacing an implant, you will need to consider different breast implant shapes and sizes and what look you wish to achieve with your new implants.
Your surgeon will then:
- Review your medical history
- Examine your breasts
- Recommend an implant type, size, and position if relevant
- Discuss your expectations from surgery
- Detail the risks and complications of implant removal or implant replacement surgery
- Go through the aftercare and recovery process
You will then be allocated a dedicated patient coordinator who will be your point of contact should you wish to go ahead with the procedure.
During your journey you may decide to have a number of consultations with your plastic surgeon and their nursing team before deciding to go ahead with surgery.
Pre-Operative Appointment
In the interests of patient safety all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your breast implant removal or replacement consultation your medical history will be reviewed and the pre-operative nurse will choose which pre-operative tests to carry out which are going to be most appropriate to you. Most breast implant removal or replacement pre-operative assessments include a blood test, MRSA swabs, urine test and a blood pressure test.
They will also advise you of any precautions you need to take in the days or weeks leading up to your breast implant removal or replacement procedure and advise on any medication that you should stop taking before procedure.
Breast Implant Removal or Replacement Surgery
On the day of your operation the medical team will ensure you are comfortable. Your breast implant removal or replacement is performed under general anaesthetic and will take 1-2 hours. You will be given an admission time which usually involves you arriving an hour before the agreed start time of surgery.
Once admitted:
- The nursing team will record your blood pressure and prep you for surgery.
- You will meet with the surgeon who will go through the procedure again and answer any questions.
- Pre-operative photos will be taken.
- Your chest will be marked up ready for surgery.
The Procedure
- General anaesthetic will be administered by the anaesthesiologist.
- Your breast surgeon will use your existing scars to remove your old implant.
- A capsulectomy or enbloc may be performed depending on condition of implants, capsules, and preference of the patient.
- If having a replacement, new implants will be placed into the breast pocket.
- The incision will then be closed with dissolvable stitches and covered with tape.
- A surgical bra will then also be placed onto the patient which will need to be worn during your recovery period.
- You will then be taken to recover in a recovery room for 1-3 hours.
- Once the surgeon and nursing team are happy that you are safe to return home, you will be discharged and allowed to leave accompanied by a family member or friend.
After your breast implant removal or replacement procedure
A member of our nursing team will call you usually the day following your procedure to ensure you are feeling comfortable and recovering well. You will have been given details of our dedicated on-call nursing team who can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you have any worries or concerns during your recovery time.
You should avoid strenuous activities and exercise for 6 weeks and ideally have 1-2 weeks off work to recover.
You will be required to attend a series of follow-up appointments at The Private Clinic which include a 1-week check-up appointment with a nurse and then your 6-week post-operative appointment with your surgeon. At this stage you should be back to your everyday activities and your surgeon will be able to advise you on anything that you are unsure of and answer any questions.
The Consultation
Your implant removal or replacement procedure will begin with a consultation with one of our expert breast surgeons at a clinic of your choice.
At your consultation you will be able to discuss your concerns and find out your options to see which approach will be most suitable for you. When it comes to replacing an implant, you will need to consider different breast implant shapes and sizes and what look you wish to achieve with your new implants.
Your surgeon will then:
- Review your medical history
- Examine your breasts
- Recommend an implant type, size, and position if relevant
- Discuss your expectations from surgery
- Detail the risks and complications of implant removal or implant replacement surgery
- Go through the aftercare and recovery process
You will then be allocated a dedicated patient coordinator who will be your point of contact should you wish to go ahead with the procedure.
During your journey you may decide to have a number of consultations with your plastic surgeon and their nursing team before deciding to go ahead with surgery.
Pre-Operative Appointment
In the interests of patient safety all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your breast implant removal or replacement consultation your medical history will be reviewed and the pre-operative nurse will choose which pre-operative tests to carry out which are going to be most appropriate to you. Most breast implant removal or replacement pre-operative assessments include a blood test, MRSA swabs, urine test and a blood pressure test.
They will also advise you of any precautions you need to take in the days or weeks leading up to your breast implant removal or replacement procedure and advise on any medication that you should stop taking before procedure.
Breast Implant Removal or Replacement Surgery
On the day of your operation the medical team will ensure you are comfortable. Your breast implant removal or replacement is performed under general anaesthetic and will take 1-2 hours. You will be given an admission time which usually involves you arriving an hour before the agreed start time of surgery.
Once admitted:
- The nursing team will record your blood pressure and prep you for surgery.
- You will meet with the surgeon who will go through the procedure again and answer any questions.
- Pre-operative photos will be taken.
- Your chest will be marked up ready for surgery.
The Procedure
- General anaesthetic will be administered by the anaesthesiologist.
- Your breast surgeon will use your existing scars to remove your old implant.
- A capsulectomy or enbloc may be performed depending on condition of implants, capsules, and preference of the patient.
- If having a replacement, new implants will be placed into the breast pocket.
- The incision will then be closed with dissolvable stitches and covered with tape.
- A surgical bra will then also be placed onto the patient which will need to be worn during your recovery period.
- You will then be taken to recover in a recovery room for 1-3 hours.
- Once the surgeon and nursing team are happy that you are safe to return home, you will be discharged and allowed to leave accompanied by a family member or friend.
After your breast implant removal or replacement procedure
A member of our nursing team will call you usually the day following your procedure to ensure you are feeling comfortable and recovering well. You will have been given details of our dedicated on-call nursing team who can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you have any worries or concerns during your recovery time.
You should avoid strenuous activities and exercise for 6 weeks and ideally have 1-2 weeks off work to recover.
You will be required to attend a series of follow-up appointments at The Private Clinic which include a 1-week check-up appointment with a nurse and then your 6-week post-operative appointment with your surgeon. At this stage you should be back to your everyday activities and your surgeon will be able to advise you on anything that you are unsure of and answer any questions.
FAQs
The answer to this question depends on the reasons why you are removing your original implants and also what look you are trying to achieve. If you like the appearance of your breast implants but want them removed because they are faulty or have come to the end of their lifetime then a replacement of implants would be the best option. However if you feel your implants are too large, and just want a more natural appearance to your bust then it is best to have the implants removed. If you are feeling unsure then we recommend visiting one of our expert breast surgeons who will be able to listen to your thoughts and concerns about surgery and help you make a more informed decision. They will also be able to assess you in person and give their advice on what you can expect to achieve from surgery.
In most instances, a breast implant replacement or exchange is very similar to breast augmentation. It does depend on the reason for the revision however if the patient is choosing similar sized implants and there are no other issues then it will be just like a breast augmentation. If the patient needs to have the pocket adjusted to fit a larger implant, scar tissue or capsules removed or if they require a breast lift then this will be a more complex procedure. The procedure will be explained in full detail by your surgeon at your consultation so you will be fully informed ahead of making your decision. Aftercare advice will also be provided to you following surgery and you will be able to contact us 24/7 using our patient helpline if you have any questions or concerns.
One of the most common reasons that patients decide to have a breast implant exchange is because they are not happy with the size of their current implants and want to go bigger or smaller. At The Private Clinic, we give our patients the chance to go through the different sizes of implants during their consultation or at a second sizing appointment. When you decide to exchange your implants, this process will happen again although it can be difficult to work out the best size when you already have implants in place. Using the sizer bra and any 3D imaging device can give you inaccurate results to base your decision off of. In these instances, your surgeon will take measurements of your breast base and shape to help decide on an implant that is going to be suitable for your body as well as give you the results that you are hoping for. If you did not have your original implants with us, then it is useful to bring along information about what size, type, profile and placement of your current implants. The amount that you can look to increase or decrease the size of your implant depends on your tissue and chest size. In some people who have very tight tissue and a small chest it is not advisable to increase the size of the implant too much as it will distort the natural tissue and be too wide for your chest. When it comes to choosing smaller implants, in some cases you may require a breast uplift procedure as the tissue around the implant may have been stretched to fit the previous implant and changing to a smaller implant could cause the skin to sag. In these cases, it will depend on the size of your current implant in comparison to the size that you are changing too. Your options for breast implant exchange/replacement surgery will all be discussed in consultation with one of our expert breast surgeons.
The Private Clinic sees over 15,000 new patients every year and perform over 10,000 procedures, with one of the highest –patients’ satisfaction in the sector, Trustpilot 9.4, 5 star rating, 96% would recommend us to their friends and family. We are a multi award winning provider and have been voted the Aesthetic award for Best UK Clinic Group 2017. The Private Clinic prides itself on its commitment to Medical Expertise, Patient Care and Satisfaction, Honest advice and most importantly Results. We are above all committed to Quality. Please feel free to contact us for any advice or to book a consultation with one of our expert Breast surgeons. Breast Implants removal and replacement cost can be part of your decision to undergo a procedure but it should never be the deciding factor. For more information about The Private Clinic, our experience and medical expertise click here. The cost of removal of breast implants is approximately £4,650. The cost of removal and replacement of breast implants is approximately £5,830. We don’t follow a one-price-fits-all policy and prices are quoted on a case by case basis. You will be given an accurate quote for your requirements following your consultation. Consultations with our breast surgeons are £100 at our clinics in London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Northampton clinics. We also offer consultations with our highly experienced Patient Coordinators which require a £25 refundable deposit to secure your place. These are available in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Northampton. Patient coordinators are able to offer you all the information you require prior to meeting a surgeon. Please note all consultations available at our Harley Street clinic are with a surgeon.
The Private Clinic has clinics nationwide so we are sure to have an expert breast surgeon located near to you where you can discuss impant removal or replacement procedures. Our clinics are in; • London – 98 Harley street, W1G7HZ • Manchester – 25 St John Street, M3 4DT • Birmingham – 88 Hagley Road, B16 8LU – West Midlands • Leeds – 45 Park Square North, LS1 2NP – Yorkshire • Buckinghamshire – Stokenchurch Medical Center Oxford Road, HP14 3SX – South East England • Bristol – 92c Whiteladies Road, BS8 2QN – Clifton • Northampton – 82 Billing Road, NN1 5DF – East Midlands We also have consulting rooms in Milton Keynes where you can have consultations with one of our patient coordinators. To find out more about booking a consultation at a clinic near you, contact us here.
Things to Consider
Our advice on what to consider when deciding to have a breast implant removal or replacement procedure:
1. When choosing a clinic, you should always do your research, and only go to an established, reputable clinic.
The Private Clinic has been in the cosmetic surgery industry for over 35 years. We are here to answer all of your questions and give you peace of mind.
2. When choosing a surgeon, make sure you know who you’ll be seeing. Their expertise, qualifications and patient satisfaction rate are important factors to take into consideration.
At The Private Clinic, we only source the most experienced and specialised surgeons. Find out more about our plastic surgeons here.
3. Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing where to have your treatment. Safety should be your number one priority and feeling confident that they will look after you – not only before, but also after your procedure
4. When it sounds too good to be true, it often is. Always find out what implants are going to be used and what your clinic’s reputation is.
Our surgeons use the highest quality CE Mark and FDA approved implants to ensure the very best results and safety standards.
Our excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction, honest advice and outstanding care means your journey with The Private Clinic will be an exciting experience to a newfound shape.
Patient Stories
Outstanding care, patient satisfaction and results mean everything to The Private Clinic Team
“I could straight away see that they were a lot smaller and softer from what they were before”
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Why Choose The Private Clinic
- Expert Cosmetic surgeons, see our before and after results.
- Dedicated care with your expert breast surgeon and nursing team, and a 24 hour help line.
- Peace of mind with our personal three-year aftercare breast cover.
- The Private Clinic covers a lifetime guarantee on your implant.
- We have state of the art hospital facilities.
- All of the breast options are discussed not just one type of implant. So you will be happy with your shape.
Meet our Surgeons
We have a dedicated Plastic Surgeon and medical team who will be with you throughout your journey.
At The Private Clinic breast implant removal or replacement surgery is performed by some of the UK’s top consultant plastic surgeons who have decades of experience.

Mr Adrian Richards
MBBS, MSc, FRCS (Plast.)
GMC Number : 3286812

Mr Davood Fallahdar
BSc, MB ChB (Hons), MD FRCS (Plast), MicroSurg. (Hons), ORL H&NSurg
GMC Number: 4686602

Mr Adel Fattah
FRCS (Plast.)
GMC Number : 4764599

Mr Dario Rochira
BS, MD
GMC Number : 6130664

Mr Navid Jallali
BSc, MB ChB (Hons), MD FRCS (Plast)
GMC Number: 4404969

Mr Olumuyiwa Olubowale
MB ChB, MSc (Sheffield), FRCSI, FRCSI (Gen Surg)
GMC Number : 6044974

Mr Philip Lim
BSc, MB ChB, AFRCS (Ed), MRCS (Eng), FRCS (Plast)
GMC Number: 4219068

Mr Maisam Fazel
MA(Cantab) MB BChir MSEd FRCS
GMC Number : 4767420

Mr Mobinulla Syed
MBBS, MSc, PhD, FRCS, Specialist fellowships in Breast, microsurgical, limb and burn reconstructions.
GMC Number: 6035480
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