COSMETIC TOWN JOURNAL



Breast Implant Revision - Insights for Patients

Posted February 08, 2021
Revision breast surgery with breast implants

Breast augmentation continues to be one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures currently performed in the United States. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were almost 300,000 breast augmentation procedures performed in the United States in 2019. One of the most popular augmentation techniques is the placement of breast implants in the body. When it comes to the process of choosing which breast implants to put in the body, Cosmetic Town TV recently took an in-depth look at new breast implants for patients:

Even though many patients are happy with their results, there are some people that are not satisfied with the size or appearance of their breasts after the procedure. There are also changes to the size or shape of the breasts that can occur as a person ages. Patients that want to undergo breast implant revision need to take a look at the insights below in order to get the results they desire.

Reasons for Breast Implant Revision

There are number of reasons patients want to have breast implant revision:

  • Unhappiness with the appearance of the breasts
  • Changes in the position of the breast implants thanks to the aging process, weight loss, weight gain and breastfeeding
  • Breast implant leakage or rupture
  • Capsular contracture
  • Asymmetry in their appearance

Each person is different so the surgeon needs to discuss the desired reasons for the breast implant revision with the patient.

Breast Implant Revision Techniques

The technique used to perform breast implant revision depends on the reason for the surgery. Some of the most popular revision methods include:

  • Breast implants can be removed and/or changed for new implants that are a different size or shape
  • The area of the body where the breast implants are placed can be changed (the space in the body where the breast implant sits)

Breast Implant Size

When it comes to the size of the breast implants, there are some patients that feel like their current implants are too small. Others might feel that their breast implants are too big in their current size and want to exchange their implants for a smaller size that has a more natural appearance.

Breast Implants Lifespan

On average, breast implants can last anywhere from 10-20 years. Since breast implants are man-made devices, they will eventually break down through methods such as a disruption in the integrity of the shell of the implant. They can also move out of place at some point during the lifespan of the breast implants being in the body.

Patients need to be aware of the fact that they will need to undergo regular follow-up appointments and checkups to monitor the current status of their breast implants. The placement of breast implants is not as simple as simply putting them in the body and then not worrying about them ever again. Patients need to know what is in their bodies at all times and they also need to stay aware of any changes such as the formation of any scars around the breast implants.

Patients that had a Previous Breast Implant Revision

There are some patients who will want to undergo another breast implant revision that don’t feel like they made enough of a change during the first surgery. On the other hand, there are some patients who did have a good amount of volume removed but they are lacking even more volume thanks to additional weight loss. These patients can be treated through breast fat transfer. The fat transfer process starts with removing fat from one area of the body (using liposuction) so it can be purified before being injected into the area of the breasts lacking in volume.

There are also some breast implant revision patients who feel like they did not make enough of a change in the size of their breast implants. These patients can have another set of breast implants placed in their body (if the doctor feels the patient is healthy enough to change out the implants again).

Breast Implant Revision Consultation Appointment

During a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor that is experienced in performing breast implant revision surgery, the patient should be prepared to discuss the reasons why she wants to make changes to the size, shape or appearance of the breast implants. By sharing the concerns and reasons behind the desired procedure, the doctor will be able to better visualize the final results desired by the patient.

It is also helpful for the doctor to know any pertinent details about the previous surgery such as the size of the breast implants, the placement technique and any complications that might have occurred during the procedure.

The more information a surgeon has going into a breast implant revision surgery, the better prepared the doctor will be to address any issues or concerns on the mind of the patient. The process of achieving the desired results can often be challenging but an educated and well-informed surgeon can make the difference in providing superior results.

- MA

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