Breast Revision

Breast augmentation is an incredibly common procedure, which unfortunately means that women find themselves unhappy with the results of their surgery with a somewhat surprising amount of frequency. There might be any number of reasons that you’re not happy with the results of a prior breast augmentation, which is why we offer breast implant revision in Scottsdale at AdmireMD Plastic Surgery + Skin Clinic.

Is Breast Implant Revision the Right Choice for Me?

Although considered very safe, breast implant revision surgery to correct problems with breast implants can sometimes be more complicated, cost more, and involve a longer recovery period than the initial surgery.

Patients in the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas might be can be unhappy with their augmentation results due to issues including:

Implant shape
Size
Placement
Leakage
Wrinkling
Implant displacement
Capsular contracture
Symmastia

How Does Breast Implant Revision Work?

Breast implant revision is a surgical procedure designed to correct unsatisfactory results from previous augmentation surgery, or to address conditions that have changed with a woman’s implants. In revision surgery with Anthony A. Admire, the goal is to correct a problem like capsular contracture or rippling, or to replace leaking or ruptured implants.

In most cases, the revision procedure is easier than the original augmentation, as Anthony A. Admire is able to enter through the original incisions, and can therefore avoid having to make new ones.

Woman laying on the floor wearing black undergarments

Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Implant Revision?

There are quite a few factors that go into deciding whether or not breast implant revision is right for you. If you’re in the Phoenix or Scottsdale areas, and are unhappy with the results of a previous breast augmentation surgery, it’s definitely a good idea to set up a consultation and learn more about whether or not this procedure is right for you.

Some women wind up wishing they had chosen implants of a different size, in which case Anthony A. Admire advises that you wait at least one full year to give all the swelling and settling a chance to finish completely, in addition to allowing you to really live with your augmented breasts before deciding to make a change in size.

A more serious issue, like implant rupture or capsular contracture, means revision surgery is no longer optional. In the case of a silicone rupture, any silicone needs to be removed, along with the implant. Capsular contracture can be painful, and can make the implant move into an asymmetrical position, so revision is necessary.

Problems like rippling are usually also deemed to merit necessary replacement, although this issue is in no way dangerous to your health or painful. The cosmetic aspect of rippling, however, tends to defeat the overall effect of augmentation for most patients.

When to Consider Breast Implant Revision

Deciding whether or not breast implant revision in Phoenix is the right procedure for you is an important process, and it’s one that we want to make as easy and comfortable as possible. We’ll answer any of your questions, helping you to understand your options, and generally making sure whether or not implant revision is right for you.

After undergoing breast augmentation with implants, women who become pregnant or lose significant amounts of weight may no longer be happy with how their breasts look, in which case revision surgery can be an effective way of achieving the look you would prefer.

With silicone gel implants, the FDA recommends an MRI three years after your augmentation surgery, and once every two years after that. In the instance that a silicone implant ruptures, today’s more cohesive silicone gel typically stays within the implant shell, meaning the implant won’t necessarily show visible signs of deflation. In this case, an MRI can show if an implant has ruptured.

On the other hand, when a saline implant shell develops a leak, the saline fully leaks out of the shell and into the body. Since this is a simple saltwater solution, the body can simply absorb it...but the breast that has leaked will now be visibly flattened, making replacement surgery something of an obvious requirement.

Changing the Size of Your Implants

One of the most common reasons women seek out breast implant revision surgery in Scottsdale or Phoenix is to simply change the size of their implant. We advise that you wait up to a full year after you’ve had your initial surgery, before undergoing a revision. This gives your body the chance to heal, allowing swelling to subside and the implants to settle, so you can see your results in their final form. An obvious exception might be in a case where there is noted asymmetry, or in the case of a leakage or rupture.

During revision surgery, Anthony A. Admire is often able to utilize the incisions made during the initial surgery, to remove and/or replace the implants with either larger or smaller ones. If larger implants are desired, the pockets in the breasts that hold the implants will be made larger. If smaller implants are the goal, these same pockets will be made smaller using sutures, and a mastopexy (breast lift) may also be performed.

What Are My Options with Breast Implant Revision Surgery?

The most common reason patients come to Anthony A. Admire for breast implant revision surgery is to change the size of their implants. It’s quite simple to change the size, making an implant either bigger or smaller.

Some other options for breast implant revision surgery include:

Changing from saline to silicone
Changing from silicone to saline
Switch to “gummy bear” implant
New “nested design” implant

Will My Breast Implant Revision Surgery Leave Scarring?

In most cases, Anthony A. Admire will be able to enter through the original incision locations, to remove the old implants and place new ones. Increasing the size of your implants will require that he make the breast pocket larger, to accommodate the larger implant, with the same being true in reverse, if you are downsizing.

An exception to this comes with implants that have been placed through the transaxillary method, which involves incisions made in the armpits. These incisions cannot be used again. For revision surgery, new incisions need to be made, usually along the breast crease. So, if you’ve had implants placed through the armpit, you will definitely now have new scarring.

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What to Do If Your Implants Are Leaking

Implants can leak because of age, defect, injury to the breast, or overfilling. Whatever the reason, a leaking implant should be replaced as soon as possible. The incisions made during the initial surgery are often used when replacing the implant.

A leak to a saline implant is immediately noticeable: in most cases, the implant deflates and the saline is absorbed by the body. Silicone implant leaks are often discovered only during routine mammograms, as modern silicone is designed to hold its shape.

Will Insurance Cover Breast Implant Revision in Phoenix?

In most cases, insurance won’t cover breast augmentation unless it was after a mastectomy. Many companies will cover revision surgery if it is deemed medically necessary, however, as in the following conditions:

Capsular contracture
Breast asymmetry
Implant rupture
Poor incision healing

Coverage varies widely, however, depending upon the insurance company. At AdmireMD Plastic Surgery + Skin Clinic, we work with insurance companies to ensure our patients have as much coverage as possible, but there is a great deal of fluctuation.

When Implants Are Causing Complications

There is always a risk of some complication with a breast implant procedure, including wrinkling and rippling of the implant (usually with saline implants); capsular contracture, in which scar tissue forms around the implant; hardening the breast (which changes its look and feel); and symmastia, in which the implants drift together and meet in the middle of the chest. Even when breast implant revision surgery is successful, your new implants will still be subject to the same problems as the original implants.

Are There Risks or Complications from Breast Implant Revision Surgery?

The risks of revision surgery are the same as for breast augmentation. Beyond the general risks associated with any surgery, there are some risks specific to these procedures. These include:

Capsular contracture
Implant leakage or rupture
Implant shifting
Changes in nipple sensation
Impaired ability to breastfeed
Breast asymmetry
The visible rippling of the implant

Set Up Your Consultation at AdmireMD Today

If you’re in the Phoenix or Scottsdale areas, and you’re interested in learning more about breast implant revision surgery, we welcome you to reach out and contact us for a consultation at 480.946.3155. We’ll discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action, so you can love your body and feel great about the way you look, every single day.