WHAT IS A BREAST IMPLANT REVISION SURGERY?
Breast implant revision surgery aims to replace old breast implants with new ones. It is most often performed to update the implant material or resize the breasts. However, it can also be necessary in the case of an implant rupture, capsular contracture, or to correct the unsatisfactory outcome of a previous breast augmentation surgery. Breast implant revisions can be performed independently or with a breast lift or reduction. Sometimes the breast implant pocket also needs to be reshaped so that the new implant can sit more comfortably on the bust. Breast implant revision surgery redesigns the bosom to look better than before!
REASONS FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION REVISION
Implant Rupture
- Breast implant ruptures are rare. However, they can occur at any time after your breast augmentation procedure. The most common rupture causes are:
- Capsular contracture
- Compression during a mammogram
- Punctures during breast biopsies
- Improperly filled implants
- Other damage-causing pressure
Saline breast implants deflate as soon as they rupture, and the body naturally absorbs the saltwater solution, but the silicone shell will need to be surgically removed. Silicone implant ruptures are called "silent ruptures" and will not show immediate signs of leakage. The leaked silicone will spill and encircle its shell. It must be treated before it escapes the breast implant pocket since the body cannot safely absorb silicone.
Capsular Contracture
After a breast augmentation, the body naturally molds fibrous scar tissue around the implant, forming a capsule that keeps the implant in place. The body will form this capsule around the implant to protect itself, but instead of being soft, it will feel strangely hard and dense. However, capsular contracture occurs when your body detects the breast implant as a foreign substance and rejects it. As the tissue stiffens, the capsule will begin to squeeze the implant. It causes chronic pain, misshapenness, and pushes the implant to sit higher on the chest than it should.
Symmastia
Symmastia occurs when the tissue in the cleavage area joins together and the dividing line between the breasts disappears. When fat and excess skin gather between the breasts, collagen fibers accumulate in the breast tissue in an abnormal pattern. This creates the illusion of a single breast, popularly known as a "uniboob" and sometimes pushes the nipples to point outwards. Symmastia is most commonly seen in mastectomy patients who underwent breast reconstruction; it likely happens because the mastectomy surgeon removed too much tissue from the sternum. However, it can also occur when implants are bigger than the breast pocket it was placed in.
Breast Rippling
Sometimes breast implants cause breast rippling, which are wrinkles that can be seen and felt on the skin. Breast implant rippling occurs when the breasts do not have enough tissue to sustain the volume of the implant or when the skin is thin and lacks sufficient subcutaneous fat. When the implant is too large for the mammary gland, the skin on the top and size of the breast develops grooves. Rippling occurs most commonly with saline implants since they are less dense than silicone-gel ones. However, silicone implants can also develop this issue, particularly if they are textured. The solution is to replace the implant with a smaller, firmer, or smoother one.
Poorly Position
Poor implant placement is a common reason for undergoing a breast augmentation revision. Patients are unsatisfied with the results of a previous breast augmentation surgery, noting that their implants sit too high on the chest or appear asymmetrical. The breast can shift out of place or develop symmastia and cause a deformed or uneven appearance. But other times, the implant was placed incorrectly through a surgical method that did not suit the patient's anatomy. Replacing the breast implant (possibly using a different method than before) is the best resolution to this issue.
Changing Size
The most common reason patients undergo breast implant revision surgery is to change their breast size, particularly to go bigger! Surgery to adjust the size of the breasts is usually less painful since the breast pocket has already been opened to accommodate the implant. Patients going from very small to large breasts will commonly undergo a series of revision surgeries to slowly acclimate their bodies to the large implants. However, most breast augmentation patients will not need this; going up just one or two implant sizes gives the bust a more defined, ample appearance with no hassle.
WHEN TO REPLACE BREAST IMPLANTS
Patients often ask when the best time is to replace their breast implants. Most saline and silicone implants are FDA-approved for 10 to 20 years, but most individuals choose to replace them before this time to complement their body's natural physiological changes. While there is no definite timeframe during which every patient is required to replace their implants, common reasons to replace breast implants include:
- Desire for new size or texture
- Breast implant rupture
- Breast implant deflation
- Implant has been displaced
- Implant was poorly placed
- Capsular contracture
- Symmastia
- Other implant-related complications
BREAST IMPLANT REVISION RESULTS
Your breasts will be settled and at their complete softness after 6 months. You will be able to see and feel the final results of your breast augmentation revision, and most (if not all) of the symptoms should have passed. There is still the possibility of slight tingling for up to a year after surgery, as the implants may need more time to settle into a more natural-looking position.
BREAST IMPLANT REVISION RECOVERY
Recovering from breast revision surgery will follow the same process as the original breast augmentation. The first week after surgery will feel the most unpleasant since pain peaks within the first 48 hours. Body Aesthetic Center's breast surgeons will prescribe pain medication to alleviate the discomfort. However, you should arrange for a caregiver to assist you 24/7 for the first week since you will still be bedridden. You will feel a tingling and sharp pain in the breasts and nipples; this indicates that your nerve endings are healing and is no cause for concern. After the first month, swelling and bruising will subside and will no longer obscure your results after 3 months. Although you will be able to return to normal activities after a month, you should continue to wear your breast augmentation compression garment and avoid strenuous activity until cleared by your surgeon.
DOES A BREAST IMPLANT REVISION CREATE NEW SCARS?
It is natural to be concerned about post-surgical scarring after your breast revision procedure. Once the breasts fall into place, patients refocus on scar treatments to minimize the evidence of their procedure. Patients often ask our breast surgeons if their implant revision will create new scars. The incisions made during the original breast augmentation are typically reutilized during a breast revision and will heal as the first ones did. However, new scars will be created if the patient chooses a different method that requires openings in other body areas. There are also some breast incision methods, such as the transumbilical method (TUBA), where incisions cannot be reused. Your board-certified Miami breast surgeon will give you personalized guidance on this matter and provide you with a scar care routine to fade the small scars at your incision site. We also offer laser treatments to fade the scars faster and more efficiently.
BREAST REVISION CANDIDATES
AT Body Aesthetic Center
The ideal candidates for a breast revision are over the age of 18, do not smoke, and want to change the look, size, and feel of their breasts for cosmetic or medical reasons. Speak to your doctor if you have any conditions that may affect your ability to undergo anesthesia and heal properly. Your Miami Aesthetic surgeon will order laboratory tests and review your medical history to confirm your candidacy for a breast implant revision. During your consultation, they will inform you of any factors that might affect the outcome of your surgery or recovery process and provide customized preparation and aftercare instructions to help you achieve beautiful, lasting results.
BREAST IMPLANT REVISION FAQS
Your Body by Unique breast surgeon will examine medical history to determine if you are eligible for a breast revision. If so, you should stop smoking at least one month before surgery and avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood-thinning supplements. Your surgery coordinator and board-certified surgeon will give you a list of all instructions, pain medications, and essential items.
- Loose clothing that buttons in the front
- Specialized compression garments
- Surgical bras
- Bandages
- Vitamins
- Scar creams
- Protein-rich foods and snacks
Strict adherence to these guidelines will reduce the risk of complications, help you heal faster, and safeguard your beautiful results.
Breast implant revision surgery at Body Aesthetic Center costs between $3,000 to $10,000USD or more. This procedure yields a broader cost range since the price varies depending on the complexity of the revision. Our board-certified breast surgeons will give you a personalized price at your first free consultation.
Breast revision surgery poses the same risks associated with any other general surgery, such as the possibility of infection, blood clots, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. Other potential complications more closely associated with breast surgery include:
- Prolonged swelling
- Hematoma
- Seroma
- Fat necrosis
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Numbness and other changes of skin sensation
- Skin discoloration
Your Body by Unique breast surgeon will discuss how these risks relate to you, as this is not a comprehensive list.
Health insurance will cover breast revision surgery if it is considered medically necessary. Insurance providers typically cover breast reconstruction surgeries after cancer, injury, or other bodily trauma. Women who have undergone mastectomies are protected by the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998; insurance companies are obligated to cover revision surgery for breast implants if the surgeon shows that removing the implants is medically necessary after a mastectomy. In other circumstances, patients should speak with their insurance providers, as each one may define "medically necessary" differently.
Breast implant removal (also known as explant surgery) will likely cause your breasts to revert to their original shape and size. If you went up several cup sizes and had your implants in for several years, your breasts are more likely to hang lower than they did before. The good news is, breast reconstruction surgery will restore your breasts after implant removal! Our board-certified breast surgeons in Miami will recommend the best course of action to lift and reshape your bust after removing your breast implants.
Slight fluctuations in weight are unlikely to impact the appearance of your breasts. However, considerable weight changes might cause breast implants to appear less defined or possibly sag.
Slight fluctuations in weight are unlikely to impact the appearance of your breasts. However, considerable weight changes might cause breast implants to appear less defined or possibly sag.
The FDA recommends patients with silicone breast implants get an MRI screening three years after their initial breast augmentation procedure and every two years thereafter to detect any tears or ruptures in the implant. Patients with saline implants will know immediately if they rupture.