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Breast Implant Revision
Breast Implant Revision
Breast Implant Revision
At Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center, we listen to your goals and expectations to provide you with the best results possible. Breast implant revision is also called breast implant exchange, as it usually involves removing your current breast implants and replacing them with new ones. If you have had breast implants placed, and your goals weren’t entirely met, a breast implant revision might be needed. We must understand your goals, expectations, and disappointments related to your prior surgery. We will listen to your concerns and do our best to meet your surgery goals.
Questions & Answers
Breast revision surgery involves removing existing saline or silicone implants from the breasts and replacing them with new implants. It is often sought if you experience loss of implant volume or a ruptured implant. Some patients have complications related to their implants, such as capsular contracture, and seek implant revision to address this issue. Sometimes, breast implants can move away from their desired location (malposition), and surgery to reposition the implants is indicated. Breast implant revision will help to address these concerns.
The benefits of a breast implant revision are unique to each individual. A breast implant revision can:
- Change the shape and size of your breasts
- Change the type of implant (silicone versus saline)
- Improve contour imperfections (implant wrinkling or the ability to see/ feel the implant quickly)
- Address implant malposition (implants sitting too high/ too low/ falling under the armpit)
- Address implant bottoming out
- Replace a deflated or ruptured implant
- Address capsular contracture
- Add balance to your figure
Maybe your breasts have changed over the years. Perhaps your original implants suited your figure, but now you feel as if they are not as complementary as you would like. Possibly, your implants are now larger or smaller than you would like. Maybe your implants have shifted over time and are no longer in the most aesthetic position.
In addition to deciding whether a breast implant revision can meet your personal goals, there are several factors to be considered in determining whether you are a good candidate for a breast implant revision. Good candidates for a breast implant revision include those who:
- Want to improve their breast shape
- Want to enhance breast implant size
- Want to achieve optimal proportions for their figure
- Have generally good physical and mental health
- Are a nonsmokers, or are willing to stop smoking before surgery
- Have realistic expectations from breast implant revision surgery
While planning your breast implant revision surgery, there are several factors to consider. Your surgeon and her team will help you make these choices and understand all the decisions associated with a breast lift.
Implant Selection and Placement/ Fat Grafting
You will have several options when choosing the method of replacing your implant to help you achieve your goal breast volume. These may include the type of implant (saline versus silicone) and implant size (the same, larger or smaller). Please refer to the breast augmentation procedure page to learn more about these options.
Incision Location
Your surgeon will discuss the location of incisions needed to address your specific implant concerns. Sometimes, we can utilize the same incision that was created in your first breast implant surgery. Depending on the extent of revision needed, we may need to extend this scar. You may have loose or stretched skin from time-related changes to your breast or if you are choosing to downsize your implant. In this case, you may require a breast lift (mastopexy). This may be performed at the same time as implant revision surgery. Please refer to the breast lift procedure page to learn more about these options.
Breast implant revision is an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia in an operating room. After your surgery, you will be placed in dressings and a bra. You will spend a short time in the recovery room before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.
It is expected to experience some pain and swelling in the first few days after surgery.
Incisions usually heal between 2 and 3 weeks after surgery. Depending on your type of work, you can generally return to work in a week to two weeks. Initially, you will have some activity restrictions, but most people can return to total activity six weeks after surgery.
You may notice less sensation in the nipple and areola areas. This is usually temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months, or even more than a year before the sensation returns to normal. Your breasts may also require some time to assume a more natural shape. Incisions will initially be red or pink. They should fade and soften over time (up to 18 months after surgery). Final results are usually seen at six months to a year after surgery.
Every patient’s recovery is different. Your recovery may be quicker or take more time than average.
Sometimes it just takes a new set of eyes and hands on a situation to make it better. This is often the case if you’ve already had revisions with your original surgeon and still haven’t reached your goals. Your surgeon will consider multiple techniques during breast implant revision surgery, including some or all of the following:
- Implant change: changing the size, shape, or composition of the implants
- Site change: moving implants to a new pocket. For instance, moving implants from above the muscle to below the muscle, or moving implants from below the muscle into a “neosubpectoral” pocket (still below the muscle, but in a new pocket).
- Capsular revision, which could include removal of part or all of the existing scar tissue or creating a capsular flap (an “internal bra”).
- Adding ADM (Acellular Dermal Matrix) or dissolvable mesh for increasing the thickness of tissue coverage over your implants, for securing your implant position, and for helping to prevent future capsular contracture.
- Using fat transfer (your own) to increase the thickness of tissue coverage over your implants, to smooth implant edges, and to improve any contour imperfections (refining the results).
If you think that you may want to become pregnant in the future, you should mention this to your surgeon. Pregnancy can change breast size and shape in an unpredictable way and could affect the long-term results of your breast procedure. Changes in breast and/or nipple sensation may occur.
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, be sure to tell your surgeon. She may recommend that you stabilize your weight prior to undergoing surgery.
Depending on your age, or if you have a history of breast cancer in your family, we may recommend a baseline mammogram before surgery and future mammographic examinations according to your regular schedule. This will help to detect any future changes in your breast tissue. Following a breast reduction, you will still be able to perform breast self-exams, which you should do monthly. Breast reduction surgery will not increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
Please visit our My Consult page to learn more about what happens during your consult.
Please visit our Financing page to learn more about financing options.
Gallery
34 year old female had a ruptured silicone gel implant on the right side, as well as breast ptosis (droop), and her left implant rolled towards her armpit. Dr. Kavali removed both implants, did a capsulectomy on the right side, capsular revisions on both sides to correct implant positioning, and placed new Allergan silicone gel implants, soft touch, low profile, 230 cc under the muscle.
- Age: 25 - 40
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 230 cc
- Implant Type: Allergan silicone gel implants, soft touch, low profile
- Implant Location: Under the muscle
45 year old female with aging saline implants and implant malposition desired smaller, lifted breasts with implants in proper position. Dr. Kavali removed her 360 cc saline implants and replaced them with Allergan smooth, round, soft touch, low plus profile implants, 234 cc, under the muscle. She also reinforced the implant position with ADM (internal bra) and did a mastopexy at the same time. She is shown before and 5 years after her surgery.
- Age: 41 - 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 234 cc,
- Implant Type: Allergan smooth, round, soft touch, low plus profile implants
This 42 year old female had several prior breast surgeries done elsewhere, but ultimately came to Dr. Kavali hoping for fuller breasts and improved shape. She chose Allergan silicone, smooth, round, soft touch, moderate profile implants, 350 cc. Dr. Kavali also supported the implants with an internal bra (acellular dermal matrix/Surgimend) and did a mastopexy to reach this lovely patient’s goals. She is shown before and 6 months after surgery.
- Age: 41 - 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 350 cc
- Implant Type: Allergan silicone, smooth, round, soft touch, moderate profile
50 year old female had prior breast augmentation years earlier. She saw Dr. Kavali desiring smaller, lifted breasts. She had a breast implant exchange with removal of Mentor 200 cc implants and placement of Allergan silicone, smooth, round, soft touch, low profile 170 cc implants and a mastopexy. She also had liposuction of upper back, bra rolls, and upper abdomen at the same time. She is shown before and about 6 months after surgery.
- Age: 41 - 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 200 cc
- Implant Type: llergan silicone, smooth, round, soft touch, low profile
49 year old female had prior breast augmentation but wanted to be larger and more lifted. She also wanted to have a more sculpted abdomen. Dr. Kavali removed her Mentor 375 cc gel implants and replaced them with Allergan silicone, smooth, round, soft touch, full profile 450 cc implants. She used an internal bra (Surgimend) to support the new implants, and did a mastopexy. This lovely lady also had liposuction of her abdomen and back at the same time. She is shown before and about 2 months after surgery.
- Age: 41 - 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Type: Allergan silicone, smooth, round, soft touch, full profile
62 year old female with several prior breast surgeries before meeting Dr. Kavali. She desired more lifted breasts with more upper pole fullness. Dr. Kavali placed Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, soft touch, low profile 230 cc implants under the muscle and did a superomedial mastopexy (breast lift) at the same time. She is shown before and 3 years after surgery.
- Age: Over 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 230 cc
- Implant Type: Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, soft touch, low profile
35 year old female desired a breast implant exchange to increase her size. Dr. Kavali exchanged her Allergan silicone implants from 375 cc to 580 cc, choosing smooth, round, extra full profile, soft touch implants and keeping them below the muscle. She also had a superomedial mastopexy (breast lift) at the same time. She is shown before and about 1 year after surgery.
- Age: 25 - 40
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 580 cc
- Implant Type: Smooth, round, extra full profile, soft touch
- Incision: Below the muscle
48 year old female with prior breast implants she wanted to have exchanged. Dr. Kavali removed Mentor saline implants (375cc) and replaced them with Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, extra high profile, soft touch, 365 cc implants, keeping them under the muscle. She also did a superomedial pedicle mastopexy (breast lift) at the same time. This patient is shown before and about 6 months after surgery.
- Age: 41 - 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 365 cc
- Implant Type: llergan silicone gel, smooth, round, extra high profile, soft touch
37 year old female wanted to have her prior breast surgery revised. Dr. Kavali removed her existing Sientra anatomic-shaped implants and replaced them with Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, soft touch, full profile, 445 cc implants. She also had a mastopexy (breast lift) at the same time. She is shown before and about 6 months after surgery.
- Age: 25 - 40
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 445 cc
- Implant Type: Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, soft touch, full profile
35 year old female had aging saline implants and desired an implant exchange and breast lift. Dr. Kavali removed her existing implants and placed Allergan saline, smooth, round implants, 360 cc and did a mastopexy (breast lift) at the same time. She is shown before and about 6 months after surgery.
- Age: 25 - 40
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 360 cc
- Implant Type: Allergan saline, smooth, round implants
52 year old female with several prior breast surgeries came to Dr. Kavali with concerns regarding breast pain and her implants sitting too close together, but falling under her arms when she leaned back. She had a breast implant exchange with removal of her old implants, placement of Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, moderate profile, 405 cc implants, keeping them under the muscle. She had an internal bra (Surgimend, in this case) placed to support the position of the implants. She is shown before and about 1 year after surgery.
- Age: 41 - 55
- Gender: Female
- Implant Size: 405 cc
- Implant Type: Allergan silicone gel, smooth, round, moderate profile