A secondary plastic surgery procedure is never anticipated when you go in for the initial surgery; however, it is not unusual for patients to need a revision or touch-up procedure, especially for surgery like breast augmentation.
This is due to a number of reasons. However, breast revision procedures are available to restore or correct your ideal breast appearance.
Reasons for Undergoing a Breast Revision
Breast revision is a collective term for a series of breast enhancement techniques. While most of these techniques are used to remove and/or replace breast implants, breast revision can also be used after breast lift or breast reduction to improve upon the results of the initial surgery or correct further aesthetic changes due to weight fluctuation like those caused by massive weight loss or pregnancy.
Some common reasons to undergo breast implant removal or breast revision after breast augmentation include:
- Age of the implant: It may surprise you to hear this, but breast implants are not designed to last forever. While there is never any guarantee, most implants are known to last for 10 to 15 years. That being said, some implants have been known to last much longer than that; however, others need to replace their implant much sooner due to one of the following complications.
- Capsular contracture: Capsular contracture is an implant complication that occurs when the scar tissue that develops around a newly placed implant hardens and contracts, thereby squeezing the implant. This causes aesthetic distortion and physical pain.
- Implant rupture: Even though breast implants are designed to withstand a significant amount of pressure and trauma, it is possible for an implant to rupture (which occurs when the silicone shell weakens and develops a tear). Saline ruptures are noticeable immediately, but silicone ruptures are often only detected with an MRI or ultrasound. Fortunately, modern silicone implants are designed with a cohesive silicone gel that prevents the silicone from escaping from the shell and entering the body.
- Implant displacement: This occurs when one or both implants moves out of the designated breast pocket. This implant can drop below the breast crease (double bubble deformity), fall to the bottom of the breast (bottoming out), or move toward the center of the chest (symmastia).
- Change in aesthetic desire: It is not uncommon for women to desire a change in breast implant size. Breast revision is performed to swap implants out for a larger or smaller size, depending on current aesthetic preference.
- BII or BIA–ALCL: Breast implant illness (BII) is a term used for a collection of symptoms thought to be linked to breast implants. While this is not a verified condition in the medical community, women who feel as though they suffer from BII often experience autoimmune systems including fatigue, joint pain, headaches, brain fog, and depression.
Alternatively, breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a verified type of lymphoma (NOT breast cancer) that develops in the scar tissue that surrounds the implant. This very rare condition is most often linked to specific brands of textured breast implants.
Breast Revision Techniques
Breast revision procedures can involve one or many or the following. Common breast revision options in Fulshear, TX, include:
- Simple implant removal (without replacement): Here, the implant is removed (often using the incision from your initial breast augmentation) and the breast pocket is tightened. The incision is closed with sutures and wrapped in dressings. A breast lift is often beneficial with this technique.
- Implant removal (with replacement): After the breast implant is removed, the breast pocket is cleaned and a new implant is inserted.
- Capsulectomy: Women experiencing capsular contracture or other complications often need to undergo a capsulectomy. This is when the scar tissue that surrounds the implant is also removed. This can be a partial capsulectomy (where only some of the scar tissue is removed); a total capsulectomy (where all of the scar tissue is removed separately from the implant, or en bloc capsulectomy (where the scar tissue and implant is removed in one piece).
- Breast lift surgery: Breast lift surgery is performed to elevate sagging breasts by tightening breast tissue and removing excess skin. This is common for patients who need to address age-related breast laxity or those who have chosen to remove their implants permanently since the implant will have likely stretched the skin and tissues.
- Fat transfer to the breasts: Fat is harvested from your body (usually from the abdomen, hips, or thighs), purified, and injected back into the breasts to help create more fullness. This allows for the most natural look and feels (since the augmenting material is your natural fat) but it only allows for a small increase in size.
Customizable Procedures for You
The best part of breast revision is that it is tailored to your needs. A board-certified plastic surgeon can help guide you through your options during a consultation.
