Breast Revision
While many women have chosen to have breast augmentation procedures and are very happy with the results, over time, those results can change. A person’s body size and shape can change with age, leading them to want smaller or larger breasts than they chose as part of their original procedure. Breast tissue itself can change in size and placement with weight fluctuations, pregnancy or other changes. Sometimes, the position of a breast implant can shift, or scar tissue can tighten around the implant. In other cases, breast implants may have deflated or could be at risk of leakage.
In any of these situations, you have the choice to make a change in the appearance of your breasts. Breast revision surgery, or breast implant exchange, is an opportunity to remove, replace or alter silicone or saline breast implants.
This procedure can help to correct any concerns or problems with your original breast augmentation surgery and can help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Even if you have had breast augmentation surgery more recently and are simply discontented with the appearance, breast revision surgery can help you restore the beautiful, natural look you desire. The plastic surgeons at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery are experienced in breast augmentation and revision procedures and are committed to working with you to achieve a personalized outcome that matches your individual goals for your body and appearance.
Am I a Good Candidate For Breast Revision?
Any person who has previously had breast augmentation surgery or reconstruction and is unhappy with the results could be a candidate for this procedure. This can also be an excellent choice if you were previously satisfied with your results but changes to your body and breasts have occurred through the passage of time. This procedure can be a good choice for healthy adults; in general, it should be performed at least six months to one year after the original breast surgery in order to ensure that the breasts have fully settled in their final position and that the scar tissue in the area is suitable for further surgery. The procedure is best for nonsmokers, as smoking can interfere with your body’s ability to recover after the procedure.
Breast revision surgery can be a good choice if you want to enhance or decrease the size of your breasts, help your breasts to have a more symmetrical appearance or perform a breast lift in addition to your augmentation.
It can handle problems that have arisen with scar tissue or your breast implants and can revise the appearance of your breast surgery after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight fluctuations. This can also be an option if you are dissatisfied with the look and feel of previous breast surgery or reconstruction, or even if you want to remove your implants altogether.
When you come for a consultation with the Long Island plastic surgeons at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery, your surgeon will discuss with you in detail your concerns about your existing breast surgery and your goals for a breast revision. Your surgeon will work with you to develop an individual, customized surgical plan that addresses your concern and helps you to achieve your aesthetic vision with natural, beautiful results. You will be provided with information about potential risks, recovery time and other details, and you will have the opportunity to ask all questions about what to expect from the procedure. The surgeon will go over realistic outcomes for the Suffolk County breast revision procedure, using photos and computer models.
How Does a Breast Revision Procedure Work?
A breast revision surgery is a uniquely individualized process that is designed to respond to specific concerns about the appearance or feel of current breast augmentation or reconstruction surgery. While some women simply want to refresh their implants after 10 years, others want to achieve a change in the look of their breasts. Likewise, changes in the reconstructed breast with time and gravity may warrant slight tweaks to rejuvenate your breast(s). Depending on your individual needs for the surgery, the procedure will vary slightly.
One of the most common reasons for a breast revision procedure is to revise the size of breast implants. Your surgeon will most frequently use the original incision to remove your existing implants and replace them with new implants; if you want your breasts to be larger, your surgeon will enlarge the space in your breast to accommodate the implant. Similarly, if you want a smaller appearance, your surgeon can decrease the size of that area to accommodate a smaller implant.
Many women also wish to add a breast lift for a more youthful, forward-projecting look. Your plastic surgeon at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery can perform a breast lift at the same time that they adjust the size of your implants, enhancing the projection and look of your breasts. This may involve additional breast lift incisions in addition to your original augmentation incisions.
The same procedure is followed when you want to address a hardened or leaking capsule or implant. Your surgeon will generally use your existing breast augmentation incisions to remove the hardened or damaged implant and insert a new implant in its place. If you are unhappy with the placement and appearance of your existing implants because your breasts appear too close together or far apart, your surgeon will also make use of your existing incision to move the scar tissue and implants, reconstructing the pocket that holds them in order to achieve the look that you desire.
What Is Recovery Like After Breast Revision Surgery?
After your breast revision surgery, your full results will originally be obscured by swelling. In general, the swelling will last for up to six weeks before the breasts feel softer and their appearance becomes closer to the final results. The settling period continues for six months to a year after your surgery.
You can expect that your recovery period and discomfort after surgery will be similar to that after your initial breast augmentation procedure. While you should be able to walk around the same day of your surgery, it will take several days to a week to resume normal activities and seven to 10 days to return to work in an office or other environment with limited physical activity. Your Huntington plastic surgeon at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery will provide detailed instructions for your recovery period that help you to achieve the best results after your procedure. It will often require two weeks or more to return to more vigorous physical activity and exercise.
You can expect that your results will be permanent and stable, aside from the general effects of gravity, aging or weight fluctuations on the appearance of your breasts.
Come In For a Breast Revision Consultation
The experienced Long Island plastic surgeons at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery can help you to achieve the look and feel that you desire for your breasts. Call our office or use our convenient online form to make an appointment at our Suffolk County location to set up a consultation to discuss breast revision with our surgeons. We work with patients from across the United States and around the world, and we look forward to speaking with you about how our plastic surgeons can help you achieve your goals.