Breast Augmentation Correction and Revision
In our looks-obsessed society, breast augmentation surgery is increasingly popular. The majority of patients are satisfied with their new figure and proportions. However, some patients may need additional surgery to fix problems with their implants or to change outdated silicone materials. Some people may even choose to change the size of their breast implants.
One thing to remember is that all plastic surgeons will occasionally have patients who have complications from surgery, or else they will have patients who aren’t completely satisfied with their implants. These cases will require a breast revision surgery, often called a “touch up.” If you are a patient who needs a breast augmentation revision, do not make snap judgments about the surgeon. There are so many factors in surgery and healing that the unsatisfactory results could be through no fault of the surgeon. Patients should realize that with surgery there will always be a certain degree of unpredictability in the end result.
The patient should always follow-up with the surgeon who performed their initial breast surgery so that they can work out any problems or complications. Patients generally want to have their problems corrected as soon as possible, but they should remember that fixing such problems could take longer than they think. However, if the initial surgeon displays low confidence in their skills, poor judgment, or continues to disappoint after two or more surgeries, then the patient may decide to choose an alternate surgeon.
Problems with Implants
There are a number of different reasons why a person could be dissatisfied with their breast augmentation surgery. These reasons most often include the following:
–capsular contracture (a firmness or a thick contraction of the tissue layer around the implant site)
–improperly placed implants
–rippling, deflation, or wrinkling of the breast
–implants sized improperly
–asymmetrical implants
–dissatisfaction with scarring
–firmness of the breast due to overfilled implants
Before a patient becomes too worried with one or more of the above concerns, they should take several key factors into consideration. For starters, many women have breasts that are noticeably asymmetrical, so the patient should consider the original symmetry and shape of their breasts before their surgery. Even the most meticulous surgeons won’t be unable to create perfect symmetry in breasts that originally displayed asymmetry. Also, asymmetry may be more noticeable after breast surgery. In cases where pre-op asymmetry is significantly noticeable, the surgeon may use implants that are two different sizes. This may help to improve the symmetry of the breasts and may help them to appear closer in size. For breasts that have differences in nipple position and shape, the surgeon will most often choose smaller implants so that the change will be more conservative and less likely to accentuate asymmetry. In some cases, a patient may have a nipple that is noticeably lower than the other nipple, or one of their breasts may hang lower than the other one. In these cases, the surgeon will probably consider a breast lift in addition to the augmentation. As with all surgeries, careful and thoughtful planning before the surgery will help to improve the patient’s chances of receiving the best results.
Patients should also remember that it takes several months–almost a year–for the body to heal after a breast augmentation. While a patient may be dissatisfied with their results immediately after surgery, they may change their mind over time as their breast issues improve and change over several months. If a surgeon recommends more time for the patient to heal, then the patient should not insist on a quick fix. Rather, the patient should wait the suggested number of months. For instance, someone who is satisfied with their left breast may notice that their right breast appears too high. The patient might request that the right breast be corrected. However, in under a year, the right breast may fall into the correct position, and then the left breast may prove to be a problem.
Corrective Surgery
Sometimes corrective surgery is required. In many of these cases, the surgery is uncomplicated. However, the breast implant correction process may take one or more surgeries. Some patients may never be completely satisfied with their breasts. A patient may choose to have their implants removed. When the implants are taken out, the patient should wait anywhere from six months to one full year to allow tissue to withdraw and contract before choosing to do any other form of surgery, such as a breast lift.
