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Breast Implant Revisions

Breast Augmentation

Overview

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the United States each year. The vast majority of women that undergo breast augmentation surgery are extremely happy with their results. However, even in the best of hands, unsatisfactory results can occur. In addition, breast implants are man made devices and do not last forever; implant deflation (implant rupture) may lead to a need to exchange the implant. Many women feel that once they have gotten implants, that's it, they will never require another operation the rest of their lives; this is often, but not always the case.

Breast implant exchanges for implant deflation are often a much less demanding procedure then the initial operation since the implant pocket has already been developed. A breast implant revision may be carried out for an unequal appearance to the breast, capsular contracture, synmastia (implants joined in the middle of the chest), or implant rippling. Patients have traveled from out of the state and out of the country to undergo breast implant revisions and exchanges at Dr. Spence's Orlando, Florida plastic surgery Practice. Schedule your consultation today at 407-999-2585 with Dr. Kenrick Spence at Orlando Plastic Surgery. Also feel free to browse through our Breast Implant Revision Before & After Photos.

Who is a Candidate for Breast Implant Revision in Orlando, Florida

Examples of types of undesirable breast implant outcomes:

  1. Implant Deflation: Implants may deflate from simple wear and tear; they are man made objects and have a lifetime. Saline implants (the most common type of implants that are used today) will simply loose volume as the salt water in the implant gets re-absorbed by the body; the breasts then usually appear unequal. The exchange of the implant with a new one is a much less extensive procedure than the initial operation. Silicone gel implant ruptures are less difficult to detect particularly if the ruptured implant is confined to the surrounding capsule. Depending on the age of the implants, the patient may decide to exchange both implants to a smaller or larger size.
  2. Capsular Contracture: Capsular contracture is the hardening of the natural capsule, which forms around a breast implant. This may result in a hard asymmetric breast. There is often no clear reason why this happens, it may happen with one or both breasts; breasts may be painful.
  3. Implant Rippling: Breast implant rippling can become visible over time as breast tissue thins out with weight changes, hormonal changes, or pregnancy. Implants placed in front of the muscle, in patients with very little breast tissue, have a slightly higher chance of showing rippling over time, as the breast tissue thins out as there is no muscle to cover the upper portion of the implant.
  4. Synmastia: This occurs when implants are too close together in the middle of the chest, creating a loss of cleavage and joining of the breast
  5. Implant Displacement: When the implants sit too lateral on the chest wall under the armpit.

Procedures for Correction of Breast Implant Complications, Breast Augmentation Revisions in Orlando, Florida

Implant Rupture: Treatment of a breast implant rupture includes a breast implant exchange. The previous implant incision can be used requiring no more scars on the breast. For patients that require a larger implant, a capsulotomy may be performed (expansion of the initial breast capsule to accommodate a larger implant).

Capsular Contracture: Surgical correction of capsular contracture involves removal (capsulectomy) or release (capsulotomy) of the existing capsule. Implants previously placed in front of the muscle may be moved to behind the muscle to try to reduce the risk of future capsular contracture. Smooth implants are sometimes changed to textured implants. Though all of these procedures may lessen the risk of future capsular contraction, there is still a chance that capsular contracture may reoccur.

Synmastia: Treatment for synmastia involves capsulorrhaphy - releasing the capsule and sewing it back together to separate the implant pockets. The implant may be replaced by an implant of the same volume but with a narrow base.

Implant Rippling: Implant rippling can be addressed by exchanging implants from in front of the muscle to behind the muscle, as this muscle provides better coverage for the implant in the upper aspect of the chest. Saline implants can also be changed out for silicone implants, as they tend to ripple less. Silicone implants are only available through investigative studies. You may ask Dr. Spence if you are a candidate for silicone gel implants.

Implant Displacement: When implants sit too far out on the chest wall underneath the armpit, this may be corrected by a capsulorrhaphy - releasing and re-suturing the capsule to better shape the implant pocket.

Recovery from a Breast Augmentation Revision

This depends greatly on the extent of the surgery. Implant exchange patients may be back to work in a day or 2, while patients with a more extensive procedure may require 7 to 10 days for recovery. No heavy lifting is advised for several weeks for the more extensive procedures. A support bra is worn around the clock for 1 to 6 weeks after surgery depending on the procedure.

Breast implant revisions or breast augmentation revisions are performed in Dr. Spence's fully accredited out patient surgical suite. Patients have traveled from California, Connecticut, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and England to undergo breast augmentation revisions in Orlando, Florida. To schedule a breast implant correction consultation with Dr. Spence at the Orlando Plastic Surgery, call 407-999-2585 or request a consultation online.

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