Breast revision surgery refers to additional procedures needed after the patient's initial augmentation. The primary goal is to achieve better symmetry or correct other problems, such as capsular contracture, rippling, or bottoming-out. In other cases, women unhappy with their initial results can make changes with a secondary procedure or simply update their original breast implants. Whether a patient needs to fix an issue with their previous breast augmentation procedure or replace older implants, finding a skilled, experienced plastic surgeon is extremely important.
If you would like to learn more about breast revision surgery, contact Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery in Jacksonville, FL, to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. We will listen to your concerns, assess your needs, and work closely with you to determine the right solution for you. Here is more information from the team at Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery on common reasons why women consider breast revision surgery.
1. Breast implant replacement
After 10 – 15 years, 1 out of 5 patients will likely need some sort of breast revision surgery to update their implants. The average lifespan of breast implant devices is 10 – 20 years for either silicone or saline. Breast implant devices are ever-evolving in shape, size, or type, which means patients will likely have more options than when they first had breast augmentation surgery. If you think it is time to consider breast revision surgery but are not completely sure, one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery can help identify any aesthetic concerns and discuss replacement options.
2. Discomfort or pain
The most urgent sign that a patient may need breast revision surgery is pain or discomfort after their initial breast augmentation procedure. For example:
- Breasts are extremely sensitive or painful to the touch
- Burning sensation or redness of the skin around the breasts
- Unusual swelling or increased firmness
- Breasts change in shape and size due to the above symptoms
3. Capsular contracture
Once a breast implant is in place, the body responds to a foreign object by forming fibrous scar tissue around it, creating a tissue capsule. The capsule can become too tight around the implant, causing chronic pain and shape distortion. It can also make the breast implant rise higher on the chest. Breast revision surgery will replace or remove the displaced breast implant while alleviating painful scar tissue. Jacksonville, FL, women are left with more comfortable and natural-looking breasts, with or without their implant devices.
4. Address cosmetic issues
While revision surgery is never a patient's first choice, it may be necessary to address any aesthetic problems that may arise after the initial breast augmentation surgery. Some common reasons why patients consider a secondary procedure are:
- Incision scars didn't heal properly
- Rippling has occurred on one or both breasts and needs to be addressed
- The breast implant is visible or called a "double bubble" at the bottom of one or both breasts
- Breast implants have settled too far or too close apart and need to be corrected
5. Dissatisfaction with initial results
After their initial breast augmentation procedure, it is not uncommon for women to change their minds about breast implant size. Once their breast implants have settled into place, some patients choose breast revision surgery to increase or decrease their initial cc size to go either bigger or smaller.
6. Deflation or rupture
Although this complication with breast augmentation surgery is exceedingly rare in silicone and saline breast implants, it can occur. Breast revision surgery will be necessary to correct this issue and keep a patient safe.
7. Switch from saline to silicone
Today, it is not uncommon for patients to switch out their breast implant type. Today's devices come with a high-strength silicone gel that is less likely to ripple and is more stable than saline implants. Jacksonville, FL women who initially got saline implants often elect to switch them out for more updated implant devices with breast revision surgery.
8. Address changes in breast shape or tissue
Natural body changes due to aging, weight loss, or childbirth can affect a woman's initial breast augmentation results. Breast lift surgery can be done in conjunction with an implant revision procedure to provide a more youthful, perkier appearance.
Breast revision surgery is customized to fit every woman's needs to address any functional or cosmetic issues that may arise after their initial breast augmentation procedure. The board-certified plastic surgeons at Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery will listen to your concerns and customize your revision treatment to fulfill our promise of providing women the results they desire. To learn more, contact Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery in Jacksonville, FL, and speak to one of our professional team members today.
