Seeking out breast implant revision surgery isn’t an easy decision when you have to consider going through another post-recovery period. However, it can be the best course of action depending on your physical or cosmetic needs.
Your revision surgery is a unique combination of health factors and personal preferences, all of which your surgeon will be more than happy to help you with. During your consultation, you’ll learn about different types of breast surgery, breast augmentation, and the best options available to you.
What is Breast Implant Revision Surgery?
Breast revision surgery is when a patient needs to update or remove their previous breast implant revision. These surgeries can range from minor adjustments to a skewed implant to completely removing both breast implants.
Why Do People Seek Out a Breast Implant Revision?
You may be wondering if breast revision surgery is too drastic a change. Depending on what you’re looking for, you may need a simple cosmetic surgery enhancement or need your breast implants removed.
Let’s take a look at the most common reasons why people return to their plastic surgeon’s office and what their options usually are.
They Need a Different Type of Breast Implant Material
Some patients seek to update the material of their previous breast implants for cosmetic or health reasons. Also known as a breast implant exchange, the two best materials for breast implants are saline implants and silicone implants.
Saline breast implants have a silicone outer layer and sterilized salt water on the inside, widely considered an affordable and effective option. Silicone gel implants have a higher cost and a firmer texture, sometimes preferred for more closely mimicking natural tissue.
As such, some people may want to switch to one over the other for cosmetic preferences.
Their Breast Implants Were Recently Ruptured
One of the risk factors of breast implants is experiencing a rupture that needs medical attention. The longer a patient has their breast implants in place, the more likely they are to rupture from old age.
Several factors can lead to a ruptured breast implant, such as:
- A needle insertion
- Physical trauma
- High contact sports
- A stray cut from a surgical procedure
The Breast Implants Have Started to Migrate to the Wrong Place
Your body is a dynamic entity, fluctuating from age, hormonal changes, and physical activity. This fluctuating state means even the most skillfully inserted breast implants can still migrate out of place and become saggy or uneven.
Known as implant malposition, the standard or routine procedure involves removing scar tissue and repositioning the implant. It’s common for many breast implant patients to seek out breast revision surgery every ten years or so to anticipate subtle implant migrations.
The Patient is Experiencing Capsular Contracture After Surgery
The primary breast surgery is a delicate balance between modifying the body and anticipating how it will recover. While a skilled board certified plastic surgeon is knowledgeable about the post-operative healing process, sometimes patients will still develop scar tissue around the breast implant.
Known as capsular contracture, this type of scar tissue becomes quite hard and presses into the implant. While it can help keep the implant in place, it can also cause serious discomfort by pressing on the sensitive breast tissue.
There are several forms of capsular contracture to be aware of:
- Grade 1: This grade is the most subtle and mild. The scar tissue is very minimal and shows no cosmetic changes or causes any discomfort.
- Grade 2: While this grade shows slight cosmetic differences, like being more firm, it’s still not particularly noticeable.
- Grade 3: This grade is where people will notice significant cosmetic differences, such as unnatural roundness or uneven nipple placement.
- Grade 4: When a patient is experiencing persistent discomfort and significant cosmetic changes, their surgeon usually classifies their capsular contracture as grade 4.
They Want to Change their Breast Size
Not all revision breast surgery requests are from ruptures or implant migrations. Some people simply have their tastes change over time, so they seek out additional breast surgery to increase or decrease their implant size.
They may also couple their revision breast implant surgery with a breast lift, fat grafting, or other breast procedures.
What Should I Expect When Seeking Out Breast Revision Surgery?
Since every patient has unique needs when it comes to their primary breast augmentation as well as revision surgery, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. Your board certified plastic surgeon will sit down with you for a consultation to review details such as your current medications, lifestyle, and expectations.
A personalized approach and a verifiable resume are just a few of the details you’ll need for a successful procedure.
They’ll ask what you hope to achieve from your breast revision surgery and make recommendations as needed. Depending on your current health or past surgeries, they may recommend another course of action or delay plastic surgery until a later date.
An experienced plastic surgeon will also need to take photos of your current breast implants, both as a visual reference and to help them monitor your healing process after surgery.
How Much is Breast Implant Revision Surgery?
Breast revision surgery costs involve several details, such as your health insurance deductible, the surgeon’s fee, the type of implant you get, and medication costs. The rough cost ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 on the low end, then $15,000+ on the higher end.
Narrowing down the exact cost is one of the many details your surgeon will discuss with you during consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Are you considering getting breast augmentation revision surgery? We’ll answer a few more questions to help you feel confident in your decision.
How Common is Breast Implant Revision?
Most patients are satisfied with the results of their initial breast augmentation surgery. However, a small percentage will experience capsular contracture and may need a revision for discomfort or cosmetic purposes.
Is It Better to Remove or Replace Your Breast Implants?
This answer depends heavily on the reason behind your breast revision surgery and your surgeon’s personal recommendations. If your implants are causing severe discomfort, they may recommend implant removal.
However, others may recommend a replacement if you want a cosmetic change or the discomfort is minimal.
Is Breast Implant Surgery Easier the Second Time?
Many patients will find the second round of surgery easier for two main reasons. Not only are they more familiar with the consultation and preparation, many report the post-operative recovery to be less painful.
Reach Out to Zahedi Plastic Surgery for Revision Breast Surgery Consultation
Whether you want to modify a previous breast augmentation or remove your saline implants, the first step is reaching out to a professional. Dr. Sanam Zahedi at Zahedi Plastic Surgery specializes in breast revision surgery to help patients feel and look their best.
Think you might need an update on your previous surgery? Contact us today for a consultation for your breast implant revision and we’ll get back to you promptly.
