Breast implant revision is a procedure designed to improve or otherwise revise breast augmentation results. While a majority of women who undergo breast augmentation are pleased with their results, revision surgery may be necessary under a variety of circumstances. If you suspect you could benefit from implant revision, we welcome an opportunity to meet with you for a private and confidential consultation where we can listen to your concerns, assess your current implants, and help you determine the best course forward.
Please call South Tulsa Plastic Surgery at 918-518-5144 to schedule your breast implant revision consultation today. Dr. Brenda Schiesel welcomes women from Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, and all surrounding Oklahoma Communities.
How long after my original breast implant surgery should I wait if I seek revision?
Some women, once their implants settle into their final positions, wish they had chosen different sized implants. If you want to opt for smaller implants or larger implants, this is the surgery to do so. But Dr. Schiesel counsels her patients to wait at least one full year, so all swelling and settling are completely finished.
Plus, it gives you time to really live with your augmented breasts before you decide to make a change in size. If there are problems with your implants such as leakage or pain, there isn’t any reason to wait to address these problems.
When Breast Implant Revision Surgery will be Necessary
There are hundreds of thousands of breast augmentation procedures performed in the United States every year. Most of these produce reliable and long-lasting results. There are some instances, however, in which results do not meet expectations, produce an unfavorable appearance, or even cause pain. In these instances, revision surgery can help restore comfort and bring the chest into ideal proportions with the frame.
Some of the most common reasons to consider implant revision surgery include:
- Capsular Contracture, a hardening of scar tissue around an implant that causes distortion and discomfort
- Asymmetrical results, often a result of improperly filling implants, poor placement, or failure to account for differences in natural breast size
- Fold malposition, an issue which may push the breasts too far apart, allow implants to bottom out, or merge the breasts into a single form
- Change of heart, or simply wanting your breasts to look different than they do following augmentation
Breast implant failure is another reason to consider revision surgery. This includes visible implant wrinkles and ripples, double-bubble, folds and creases, or rupture. Newer breast implants, such as the form stable or “gummy bear” option, help to reduce these risks significantly. For this reason and more, some women choose to undergo breast implant revision surgery simply to replace older saline implants with newer, more natural-looking and feeling silicone breast implants. This is particularly true for women who had implants placed several years ago.
Will my implants be replaced during Revision Surgery?
Old implants are never reused for revision surgery. Whether you have new implants placed depends upon your reasons for seeking revision surgery with Dr. Schiesel. If you’re exchanging implants for a different size or type, or in the case of rupture, you will choose, and Dr. Schiesel will place, new implants. Some patients switch from saline to silicone implants, for instance. However, if you’ve having Dr. Schiesel remove your implants, they will not be replaced. It’s likely some of the scar tissue from the capsule will also be removed. For implant removals, Dr. Schiesel typically recommends a breast lift to deal with stretched, sagging tissue and other issues after implants are removed.
How is Breast Revision Surgery different from other Breast Enhancements?
Because there are many reasons for breast implant revision, there isn’t a single answer to this question. Some revision procedures correct former surgeries performed elsewhere. Dr. Schiesel’s goal is for the patient to be completely satisfied with her revision. Some revision procedures replace ruptured implants.
Others address the excess scar tissue that has formed through capsular contracture. In these cases, revision is necessary to exchange the implants and remove excess scar tissue. One major difference is the incisions. With revision, Dr. Schiesel can usually enter through the incisions used in the initial augmentation. This, of course, means there isn’t any additional scarring. Plus, as mentioned above, recovery is generally easier.
Is Breast Implant revision surgery painful?
The trauma of making the incisions and creating the breast pockets to hold the implants has already occurred during your original augmentation procedure. Because of that, most patients feel there is less pain and recovery is easier after revision surgery. Patients typically don’t need prescription medication (although Dr. Schiesel can provide it if desired), opting instead for over-the-counter pain medication.
BIA-ALCL
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an extremely rare, but potentially deadly form of cancer that has been linked to textured silicone breast implants with polyurethane outer shells. Out of caution, some women have selected to have their textured implants removed and replaced. If you are concerned about this possibility, Dr. Schiesel would be happy to discuss your options during your one-on-one consultation.
Breast Implant Revision Procedure
Breast implant revision may be used to remove implants or to remove and replace them. In the case of removal alone, breast lift surgery may be necessary to restore firmness to the breast mound. This is different for every woman and will be discussed in greater detail during your time in our care.
Revision of breast augmentation surgery involves the removal and replacement of existing implants. New implants can be silicone or saline, and any shape or size that seems most suitable for your current goals. They can be placed above or below the chest muscles, enabling your procedure to be tailored to your exact needs.
Our plastic surgeon follows existing incisions whenever possible to help avoid additional scarring. Following her pre and post-operative advice will further assist in this goal.
As with breast augmentation, recovery from revision surgery will require five to seven days of rest before resuming work and six weeks or more before all normal activities can be resumed. You will return to our office for follow-up visits during this time. Dr. Schiesel will assess your recovery during these visits and help you determine when it is safe to resume all normal activities.
What is recovery like?
These recoveries are usually easier than those with your initial augmentation procedure. Most women can return to work in just two or three days after revision surgery. If Dr. Schiesel performs a breast lift along with your implant exchange (usually a necessity if you’re changing to smaller implants or having implants removed), your recovery will be in line with that of a breast lift, which is more involved than a typical revision surgery.
What you can expect from your results
Again, your results are tied to your reasons for revision surgery. Dr. Schiesel is a board-certified plastic surgeon, so her training, expertise, and experience ensure you’ll be satisfied with your revision surgery.
If you’ve come to her practice because a prior augmentation wasn’t satisfactory, say there was a problem such as asymmetry, you’ll love the changes made with revision surgery. If you’re replacing older implants due to leakage, your new implants should please you. Plus, implant lifespans are increasing. Finally, if you’re having implants removed and Dr. Schiesel performs a breast lift, her expertise ensures your best results.
Are My Revised Breast Implants permanent?
Again, that depends. Breast implants have a lifespan. While today’s materials are better and stronger than used for implants just 10 or 15 years ago, implants don’t last forever. The odds are you will need another breast implant revision procedure, and maybe more, at some point in the future to replace your implants again. If Dr. Schiesel is removing your implants and performing a breast lift, these are permanent results.
Why Choose Us?
Dr. Brenda Schiesel is a board-certified plastic surgeon with substantial experience performing breast and body procedures. One of the very few female plastic surgeons in the United States, Dr. Schiesel has a direct and deep understanding of female anatomy, giving her unique insight into how best to proceed with implant revision.
Thoughtful, attentive, and entirely dedicated to each patient she sees, Dr. Schiesel takes time to understand the desires and needs of women interested in breast implant revision, helping her produce exquisite results that last for years to come.
Contact South Tulsa Plastic Surgery Today!
If you are ready to learn more about breast implant revision, call our Tulsa office at 918-518-5144 and schedule your consultation right away. South Tulsa Plastic Surgery welcomes breast implant revision patients from Sapulpa, Sand Springs, and surrounding areas of Oklahoma.
