Breast
Breast implant replacement in Korea
Breast implant replacement, also called breast implant revision, swaps your current implants for new ones, often for capsular contracture, a size change or uneven breasts. It is done under general anesthesia or sedation, and you leave the same day. Light activity usually resumes after 3 to 4 days; plan 7 to 10 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for breast implant replacement?
- Scar tissue has tightened around an implant (capsular contracture), so the breast feels firm, hurts or looks distorted
- You would like larger or smaller implants, or a different type
- Your breasts look uneven, or an implant has moved, rippled or changed shape
- Your breasts have sagged over the implants with time, weight change or pregnancy
- An implant has ruptured and you want a new one in its place
When it may not be the right choice
- You want your implants out and nothing put back. Breast implant removal is planned as a different operation
- You expect new implants to end future problems. Capsular contracture can come back after it is treated, and implants are not lifetime devices
- You are not well enough for general anesthesia or sedation, or you smoke and cannot stop around the time of surgery
Which method fits you?
A breast implant revision adds two choices that a removal does not have: which new implant goes in, and where it sits. The capsule, the pocket and the skin are planned after an exam and often a scan, so ask which of the options below the clinic offers with replacement and how each changes the time and the stay.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implant exchange only | The old implant comes out, usually through the old incision, and a new one goes into the same pocket. | A size or type change, or a ruptured implant, with a soft and healthy capsule | Back to light activity in 3 to 4 days; stitch removal at about 2 weeks |
| Exchange with capsulectomy | Part or all of the hardened capsule is removed before the new implant is placed. | Capsular contracture of Baker grade III or IV, where the breast is firm and visibly distorted | More risk of bleeding and fluid build-up than an exchange alone. Ask whether a drain is planned and how long it stays in |
| Exchange with a pocket change | The new implant is placed in a different pocket, for example moved from above to below the chest muscle. | Repeated contracture, an implant that has slipped, or visible rippling | Usually more soreness in the first days, especially when the muscle is involved |
| Exchange with a breast lift | Extra skin is removed and the breast is reshaped around the new implant. | Breasts that have sagged over the implants | Longer scars and a longer recovery. Confirm the days you need before booking |
What happens on the day of breast implant replacement?
- Consultation and exam. The surgeon checks the old implants, the capsule and your skin, and asks what you want from the new ones, using your implant card, operation notes and any recent scan you bring.
- You agree on the new implant, what happens to the capsule and the pocket, and whether a lift is added.
- The operation is done under general anesthesia or sedation. For a straightforward exchange the clinic lists no drain. Ask how long your operation will take, since capsule removal, a pocket change or a lift can add time.
- You go back to your hotel the same day in a support bra. If tissue is sent for a lab test, ask how you will get the result once you are home.
What is recovery like after breast implant replacement?
- Days 1 to 3
- The chest is sore, tight and swollen. You wear the support bra and avoid lifting or raising your arms high.
- Days 3 to 4
- Most people return to light daily activities after a straightforward exchange.
- Days 7 to 8
- Check-up at the clinic. The new implants can sit high at first, and the check looks at their position and the incisions. Once the surgeon is satisfied with both, most people fly home.
- Week 2
- Stitch removal is listed at about 2 weeks. If you have flown home by then, follow the stitch plan you agreed with the clinic before you left.
- Months 1 to 3
- Swelling goes down, and the new implants slowly sit lower and feel softer. Give it about three months before judging the shape, longer after capsule removal or a lift.
How long should you stay in Seoul after breast implant replacement?
Plan 7 to 10 days in Seoul for breast implant replacement. The chest is tightest in the first few days, and the check-up falls around day 7 or 8, after which most people fly. The clinic lists 3 to 4 follow-up visits in all, and stitch removal comes at about 2 weeks, so agree before you travel which visits happen in Seoul and how the stitches are handled at home. Capsule removal, a pocket change or a lift can mean a longer stay. If you become breathless, have chest pain, or one leg becomes painful and swollen, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic, and do not fly until a doctor says it is safe.
What are the risks of breast implant replacement?
- Capsular contracture around the new implant, or coming back if you had it before. The risk of severe contracture and of another operation is higher after replacement than after a first augmentation
- Bleeding, a collection of blood (hematoma) or fluid (seroma), more likely when the capsule is removed
- Infection, poor wound healing or a visible scar
- The new implant sitting too high, too low or to one side, rippling, or breasts that still look uneven
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation, or pain that lasts
- Rupture or other problems with the new implant over the years, which may lead to more surgery. See a doctor promptly about new swelling, pain or a change in shape of a breast, even years later
- BIA-ALCL, a rare cancer of the immune system that can form in the scar tissue and fluid around an implant, more often with textured surfaces
- Tiredness, joint pain or other whole-body symptoms that some people put down to their implants, often called breast implant illness
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs, which a long flight in the first days makes more likely, plus the usual risks of anesthesia or sedation
What affects the cost of breast implant replacement in Korea?
No breast implant replacement price is listed yet. The clinic prices the plan after it sees your photos and, ideally, your implant card or operation notes. The quote depends on the new implant brand, model and size, on how much of the capsule is removed, on any pocket change or lift, and on the anesthesia. Ask for the quote in writing, naming the surgeon and the new implant model, and check that it covers the support bra, the 3 to 4 follow-up visits, stitch removal and any lab test.
More questions
What do the Baker grades of capsular contracture mean?
Surgeons grade contracture from I to IV. Grade I feels soft and looks natural, grade II is a little firm but looks normal, grade III is firm and looks distorted, and grade IV is hard, painful and distorted. Grades III and IV are the ones usually treated with surgery.
Can I go bigger or smaller when I replace my implants?
Yes, a size change is one of the common reasons for an exchange. A larger implant may need the pocket widened. Going much smaller can leave loose skin, and some people add a lift. The surgeon checks your skin and tissue before agreeing a size.
Do breast implants need replacing every 10 years?
There is no set date. Implants are not lifetime devices, and the longer you have them, the more likely a problem that needs surgery becomes. Many people have them replaced at some point, often for contracture, rupture or a change in their body. Regular checks help you decide when.
Can capsular contracture come back after implant replacement?
Yes. Contracture can form again around the new implant, and the chance of a severe one is higher after a replacement than after a first augmentation. Taking out the capsule or moving the implant to a new pocket are ways surgeons try to lower that chance, though neither removes it.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Breast Implant Revision Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- What you need to know about breast implant revisions. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Risks and Complications of Breast Implants. US Food and Drug Administration
- Revision Breast Augmentation. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.