While most breast augmentation patients at my Las Vegas practice are happy with their results, I am frequently asked to correct procedures performed by other surgeons whose work did not quite align with what the patient was expecting. Patients seek out breast revision for many reasons, often looking to correct complications that can occur over time or to restore size, shape, and contour.
There are 5 major reasons a breast revision patient will come to us:
Some patients may simply desire a larger or smaller implant. Others want to correct something more serious, such as unnatural appearance, size difference or asymmetry, and sagging breast tissue. This is one of the most common reasons for breast revision.
When a rupture occurs, it’s pretty obvious with a saline implant, as the implant will deflate rapidly. (This does not place you in any danger if it happens, by the way. Saline is essentially a salt water solution, and the body readily absorbs it with no health problems.) Silicone implants, on the other hand, have evolved over the past few years after a cohesive gel substance that resembles the consistency of a “gummy bear” was developed. It retains its shape very well and can hold together even if a hole or tear occurs. An imaging test is often needed to identify a rupture in this case. Either way, a rupture makes breast revision surgery an absolute necessity.
Because breast implant technology has advanced so much, exchanging implants has become increasingly popular. Clients may wish to change their old implant material (saline to silicone or vice versa), change their implant size, or enhance their breast shape.
Complications are possible with any type of surgery, and breast enhancement is no exception. This includes capsular contracture (i.e., the normal scar tissue around the implant thickens and hardens, which can be painful), bottoming out (i.e., the implant drops too low), or symmastia (i.e., there is no clear division between the breasts).
Patients who opt for this often want to improve the overall shape and increase the natural appearance of the nipple and breast.
If you have questions or concerns about the outcome of your breast surgery, contact the office to set up a consultation so we can talk about your options.