Ocean Plastic Surgery Explains Breast Implant Revision and Explant Options

Dr. Raman Mehrzad explains how implant replacement, removal, breast lift surgery and changes in breast anatomy can influence revision planning.

LOS ALAMITOD, CA, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Breast implant revision is not a single procedure. For patients considering additional breast surgery years after augmentation, treatment may involve breast implant replacement, implant removal, breast lift surgery, correction of implant position, or a combination of procedures depending on the patient's anatomy, concerns and goals.

Ocean Plastic Surgery Center in Los Alamitos, California, is providing patient education on how plastic surgeons evaluate breast implants and surrounding breast anatomy when determining which revision options may be appropriate.

According to plastic surgeon Dr. Raman Mehrzad, one of the key considerations in breast revision surgery is determining whether a patient's concern originates primarily from the implant, the tissue surrounding the implant, or changes in the breast itself.

“Breast revision starts with identifying the problem rather than choosing the procedure,” said Dr. Mehrzad. “An implant can change, but so can the capsule around it, the implant pocket, breast tissue, skin and nipple position. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes and aging can also alter a breast years after the original augmentation. The surgical plan depends on understanding which of those factors is responsible for the patient's concern.”

What Is Breast Implant Revision?

Breast implant revision refers to surgery performed to address an existing breast implant or changes that have occurred following previous breast augmentation.

Patients may consider revision because of implant rupture or deflation, capsular contracture, implant malposition, asymmetry, rippling or implant visibility, discomfort, changes in breast tissue, or a desire for a different breast size or appearance.

Depending on the circumstances, revision surgery may involve replacing an implant, removing it without replacement, modifying the implant pocket or surrounding scar capsule, combining implant surgery with a breast lift, or using other techniques based on the patient's anatomy and treatment goals.

Unlike primary breast augmentation, revision surgery involves tissues that have already undergone surgery and may have continued to change over time.

Breast Implant Replacement vs. Breast Implant Removal

Breast implant replacement, also known as implant exchange, involves removing an existing implant and placing another implant. Replacement may be considered when a patient wants to maintain breast volume while addressing implant integrity, size, position or another implant-related concern.

Breast implant removal, also known as explant surgery or breast explantation, involves removing an existing implant without necessarily replacing it.

Patients considering explantation should understand that removing an implant does not necessarily return the breast to its appearance before augmentation. Skin and breast tissue may have changed because of implant-related stretching, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations and natural aging.

“The decision is not simply whether to replace or remove an implant,” Dr. Mehrzad said. “The more important question is what the breast is expected to look like after that implant is removed and whether that result matches the patient's current goals.”

When Is a Breast Lift Considered During Implant Revision?

A breast lift, medically known as mastopexy, addresses excess skin and breast position rather than implant integrity.

Some patients undergoing implant replacement or removal may have sufficient skin elasticity and breast position that a lift is not necessary. Others may experience breast ptosis, stretched skin, reduced upper-breast fullness or changes in nipple position that lead to consideration of mastopexy.

A breast lift may be performed with implant replacement or implant removal in appropriately selected patients, while other circumstances may warrant a staged approach.

The decision can depend on factors including natural breast volume, skin quality, nipple position, degree of tissue laxity, implant size, previous operations and the patient's desired postoperative breast size and shape.

Implant Rupture, Capsular Contracture and Malposition May Require Different Approaches

The reason for breast implant revision can substantially affect surgical planning.

A saline implant rupture commonly causes noticeable loss of breast volume as saline leaves the implant shell. Silicone implant rupture can be less obvious and may require imaging and clinical evaluation when implant integrity is uncertain.

Capsular contracture occurs when the scar capsule that naturally forms around a breast implant becomes abnormally firm or tight. Depending on its severity, capsular contracture may cause breast firmness, discomfort, displacement or visible distortion.

Implant malposition occurs when an implant moves away from its intended position. Depending on the direction and extent of displacement, the breast may appear too high, too low, too far toward the side of the chest or asymmetric.

Because these conditions involve different anatomical issues, they may require different revision strategies.

“Revision surgery should address the cause of the change, not simply exchange one implant for another,” Dr. Mehrzad said. “If the problem involves the pocket, capsule, skin or breast tissue, changing the implant alone may not address the underlying issue.”

Why Breast Anatomy Can Change Years After Augmentation

Breast implants exist within breast tissue and other surrounding anatomical structures that can change over time.

Aging, gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain or loss, changes in skin elasticity and natural changes in breast tissue can alter the relationship between the implant and the breast. A patient may therefore consider revision even when an implant remains intact.

According to Ocean Plastic Surgery Center, a breast revision consultation may include assessment of implant position, breast symmetry, natural breast tissue, skin elasticity, nipple position, existing scars and the condition of the implant pocket.

Previous operative reports, implant records and relevant imaging may also help inform surgical planning when available.
How Is the Appropriate Breast Revision Procedure Determined?

According to Dr. Mehrzad, breast revision planning can often begin with three questions:

1. What has changed?
2. Which anatomical structure is responsible?
3. What result does the patient want now?

These considerations can help distinguish among implant exchange, explantation, breast lifting, correction of implant position and other revision approaches.

“The operation performed years ago answers what the patient wanted then,” Dr. Mehrzad said. “Revision surgery has to answer what the anatomy looks like and what the patient wants now. Those can be very different circumstances.”

Ocean Plastic Surgery Center serves patients from Los Alamitos, Orange County, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Irvine and surrounding Southern California communities.

About Ocean Plastic Surgery Center

Ocean Plastic Surgery Center is a plastic surgery practice located in Los Alamitos, California, led by plastic surgeon Dr. Raman Mehrzad. The practice provides cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the breasts, body and face, including breast augmentation, breast implant revision, breast implant replacement, breast implant removal and breast lift surgery. The practice emphasizes patient education, individualized evaluation and surgical planning based on each patient's anatomy and goals.

Media Contact

Ocean Plastic Surgery Center
10921 Cherry St., Suite 200
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
424-355-4581
oceanplasticsurgery.com

Raman Mehrzad
Ocean plastic surgery center
+1 424-355-4581
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