About Breast Revision Surgery
Breast augmentation using implants is one of the most effective cosmetic procedures in America and offers terrific outcomes. Unfortunately, sometimes a patient can be dissatisfied with the appearance of her breasts and at some point may want breast revision treatment. Keep in mind not all revision treatments are because of practitioner error. While few breast augmentations do end with an unpleasing outcome, there are individuals who wish to have a larger or smaller implant, while some may have a visible irregularity and would like to have the implant corrected or removed all together. Furthermore, some women must have revision treatment for a particular condition. Naples, FL aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr. Andrea Basile offers breast revision surgery after giving an in-depth exam at Basile Plastic Surgery so that a healthy and desired outcome is attained.
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Ideal Candidates
Should you have any trouble (either medical or aesthetic) after breast augmentation surgery, please make an appointment with Dr. Basile to go over your desires and needs and to develop your personalized plan for breast revision surgery. Whether it's scar tissue, drooping or sagging, ripples under the skin, or size variations between the breasts, revision surgery can help correct the condition and result in a more normal and properly functioning outcome. This operation may also be appropriate if you are wanting to alter the implant style, size, or address another aspect of your breasts.
Common Reasons for Revision
Breast revision surgery either removes an implant that is not functioning properly or is no longer desired. Breast revision surgery may also be performed to change implant size or go from an implant to a fat transfer (or vice versa). There are other common situations where a revision or secondary surgery is desired or required:
Implant Rupture
Even though this is a rare occurrence, breast implant rupture can possibly occur. When a saline implant type ruptures, the implant will deflate almost immediately. Because of this, a visible defect will be noticeable. Meanwhile, if the implant is silicone based and ruptures, it is only seen via an MRI. Whether silicone or saline, when a rupture occurs, an additional procedure will be required.
Capsular Contracture
This is known as scar tissue hardening, occurring when the delicate tissue that surrounds the saline or silicone implant becomes thick and hard. Although many implant surgeries do create some internal scar tissue, most women will never see or feel it. In some patients, the hardening tissue could interfere with implant placement, which can change the breast shape and implant functionality and deliver an undesirable outcome. Capsular contracture surgery to clean up and remove scarring would be recommended.
Asymmetry
This condition occurs when the implant sizes look disproportionate. This may be due to an incorrect implant size, sagging or drooping on one side, or a different condition that may cause asymmetry. A physical examination would need to take place to determine what is leading to the asymmetry, then a revision surgery would be needed to resolve the problem, and, finally, a new set of breast implants would be positioned to create a symmetrical result.
Bottoming Out
This is a problem that happens if one or both implants bottom out or drop too low. Sometimes this is a case of a positioning error from the original treatment. To modify this, a different placement positioning approach may be needed. For some patients, tissue grafting most likely will be needed in addition to a surgically formed pocket to encircle the new implant. For many patients, going to a silicone breast implant usually will solve this issue.
Symmastia
Symmastia is a condition that takes place when breast implants are inserted and placed too closely together. Most often, this is because the breast implant used was the incorrect shape and width. A revision treatment will repair this problem by picking an implant that fits your frame and looks pleasing to the eye.
Implant Rippling
This condition occurs when you see obvious rippling and wrinkles under the skin. This irregularity typically forms just along the edging of the implant. Rippling is generally found in patients who are of a low body weight. Many times, this issue can be fixed by simply switching to a silicone breast implant.
Breast Size
Sometimes a secondary breast surgery is as straightforward as getting a smaller or larger sized breast implant. During the first surgery, you may have opted to go too conservative or gone a bit too large. A different implant size can be chosen to reach the desired goal.
What to Expect
Revision breast surgery is performed using general anesthesia. Recovery from a revision surgery varies depending on the revision type. For example, if a different size is being placed, a breast lift may work if fewer CCs are used to help remove wrinkled or loose skin. Revision surgery that warrants complex revision techniques will need a longer recovery that could possibly last up to 6 – 8 weeks. Patients will slowly start to see their newly revised outcomes once the bruising and swelling starts to disappear. The most important aspect following a new revision surgery is to reach a result that is both functioning well and aesthetically appealing.
Change Your Mind?
Revision surgery for breast implants is a specialized procedure tailored for your aesthetic goals by aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr. Andrea Basile. If you notice a visible defect in your breast augmentation results or desire a different result, we invite you to get in touch with our Naples, FL office to make your appointment at Basile Plastic Surgery. There are so many factors to consider and Dr. Basile will perform a full physical assessment, create your revision treatment plan, and discuss realistic outcome expectations.