How long does implant revision surgery take?
A contained exchange can finish within roughly an hour, while capsule removal, site change, or a combined lift extends surgery to several hours.
There is no single answer to how long revision takes, because “revision” spans everything from a device swap to a structural rebuild. What predicts the clock best is the task list: each added step — capsule work, pocket repair, plane change, lift — adds operating time.
Why the estimate ranges so widely
A straightforward exchange through the old incision with a healthy pocket is among the shorter cosmetic operations. Total capsulectomy adds a long stretch of careful dissection; dense scar tissue from earlier surgeries slows every step; and correcting two differently-shaped breasts means planning two operations in one session.
Operating time itself is not a quality score in either direction, and individual anatomy shifts any estimate. Ask at the consult stage what your projected time is, what could extend it mid-surgery, and how the team handles that scenario.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.