Breast Implant Revision in Houston, Texas
Women undergo breast augmentation to enhance their breast shape, size, and overall appearance. While many patients with breast implants are extremely satisfied with their results and experience no problems, some women require corrective surgery to address specific concerns.
What Is Breast Implant Revision?
Breast revision restores comfort and improves the appearance of breasts after surgery-related complications, genetic defects, or a desired change in previously augmented breasts. Breast implant revision allows women to restore a more natural appearance to breasts that have implant deformities. This procedure can also change the size and shape of the breasts for patients who are unhappy with the look or feel of their breasts after augmentation.
Breast implant revision can help women regain their self-esteem and physical well-being by repairing breast concerns, whether they appear soon after breast enhancement surgery or are prompted by lifestyle and aging changes.
Am I a Candidate for Breast Implant Revision?
During your consultation, Dr. Patronella will examine your breasts to determine whether or not you are a candidate for breast revision.
Breast revision may benefit you if you experience one or more of the following after your initial breast augmentation:
- Implant rupture
- Capsular contracture
- Implant displacement
- Noticeable breast asymmetry
- Congenital deformities of the breasts
- Underdeveloped breasts
- The desire to change implant size
Candidates should be in good overall health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations of their results.
How Is Breast Implant Revision Performed in Houston?
Dr. Patronella performs corrective breast surgery on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. The surgery typically takes between 1 and 3 hours.
It may consist of a single technique or a combination of methods depending on the breast concern. Frequently Dr. Patronella incorporates an “internal bra” made of an absorbable material which helps improve the position of implants and reinforce soft tissues.
Common Reasons for Breast Revision Surgery:
Capsular Contracture
After implant placement, a capsule of scar tissue forms around the implant. Occasionally, this scar tissue will tighten, causing the implant to shift and harden in the breast pocket. This squeezing often leads to physical pain and an unnatural breast appearance.
The implant and the surrounding scar tissue must be removed and the capsule repaired before your plastic surgeon can perform a breast implant replacement. This procedure is called a capsulectomy, and several types can be performed. Breast revision with a smaller implant often requires a capsulectomy.
Bottoming Out
Bottoming out is a form of implant displacement where the breast implant falls below the inframammary crease. This condition may occur when a heavy implant is surrounded by weak or thin breast tissue.
During this procedure, the implant is repositioned, and the breast fold is tightened. This can eliminate the appearance of a ‘double bubble’ below the breast.
Breast Asymmetry
Some asymmetry is common after breast augmentation, as nearly all natural breasts have some degree of asymmetry to begin with. Fortunately for most patients, this asymmetry is usually not noticeable to the naked eye. However, some women develop more apparent differences between the size and placement of each breast.
Breast revision for asymmetry involves repositioning the implant and tightening the tissues so that the breasts sit more symmetrically. Occasionally, an implant will need to be exchanged for one of a different size to facilitate this.
Congenital Defects
Some women’s breasts fail to develop normally due to congenital issues, such as tubular breast deformity. Breast revision can correct breast deformities to restore a natural look to underdeveloped breasts or constricted breast tissue. To produce natural-looking results in these patients, Dr. Patronella commonly combines several techniques to create breast crease definition and shapely contours.
Lifestyle Changes
Preferences change over time, and some women may decide they want to alter the size or profile of their implants to achieve a different look. Breast revision allows women to exchange their current implants for alternative sizes, shapes, filling materials, or textures.
The old implant will be removed, the breast pocket will be expanded or tightened as needed, and the new implant will be added.
What to Expect After Breast Revision: Recovery and Results
What Will My Breast Revision Recovery Be Like?
After your revision, you will be wrapped in a compression garment that will facilitate recovery and help your breasts heal in the correct position. Stitches are typically removed in approximately a week, and bruising and swelling usually diminish soon after.
How Long Does Breast Revision Recovery Take?
You should avoid strenuous activity for at least 6 weeks after surgery. However, most patients can return to their daily activities within 7 days.
Most women experience a recovery period similar to their initial breast augmentation recovery, but it may take slightly longer.
When Will I See My Breast Augmentation Revision Results?
Most patients will see initial results within 1 to 2 weeks. Final results may take a few months to become apparent. Breast revision offers long-lasting and confidence-enhancing results.
Whether you are undergoing breast revision to repair an unexpected complication or are choosing to improve a congenital issue, breast revision can help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Revision
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The cost of breast revision surgery varies, depending on several factors, including whether one or both breasts need revision and the degree of correction required. An examination will be required for an exact quote to be determined.
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Under some circumstances, health insurance may cover breast revision if it is a medical necessity. This means that there must be a health-related reason to undergo breast revision. Without such a reason, many health insurance policies will not cover an elective cosmetic procedure. Because Dr. Patronella does not accept insurance, patients are required to pay in full prior to surgery.
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Yes, you can have your breast implants removed without replacing them. This is called breast implant removal surgery.
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While breast revision can improve the shape of the breasts, it cannot address significant breast sagging (breast ptosis). Patients concerned about drooping breasts can combine their revision with a breast lift to achieve more perky, youthful breasts.
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Dr. Patronella frequently performs breast revision in combination with other breast surgery procedures as well as body contouring procedures, including the following:
