Surgery is never an easy choice, especially when it comes to revising the outcome of a previous procedure. A second operation is sometimes necessary to get satisfactory results. However, trying to decide whether a breast implant revision is necessary can be difficult. Almost all women want to have beautiful breasts, but many are reluctant to have unnecessary surgeries.
Some women choose breast implant revision because implants can shift out of place over time, falling too low or to the outside of midline. Many want a different size implant. Others opt for revision because the implants were never in the right location.
Poor implant placement leads to a saggy or uneven appearance, lack of cleavage, and nipples that point upwards instead of forward — or even nipples that point in different directions.
Signs You Should Consider Breast Implant Revision
Breast implant revision is optional in some cases and medically necessary in others. Women considering breast implant revision should speak with a surgeon to determine whether revision is necessary or optional.
Surgical revision is necessary if a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or x-ray shows your silicone implant has developed a leak or if your saline implants have deflated. Surgical revision is also helpful in cases where firm and sometimes painful scar tissue tightens around the implant, a condition known as capsular contracture. This scar tissue can actually change the shape of the implants or even push them out of place. Surgical care includes the removal of the implant and scar tissue. Some women chose to have new implants whereas others ask their surgeons to tighten the skin after removing the implants.
Breast implant revision is an option if you want to change the size of your implants or breasts. The surgical procedure includes removal of the old implant, adjusting the size as desired, and optimizing the new implant location. The cosmetic surgeon may use a biologic mesh sling to restore the breast to a higher, more centralized location in women with thin skin.
Weight loss and loss of breast tissue can make implants more visible, especially in cases where the implant lies just below the breast tissue. In these cases, treatment focuses on relocating implants so that they are better camouflaged, by tucking them behind the chest muscle or by transferring fat from other parts of the body to the breast.
Aging and a history of other surgeries can cause a change in nipple position and the shape of the breast. Surgical options include skin-tightening procedures, changing the size of the implant, or a combination of the two.
Making the decision to have breast implant revision is never easy. Some women only choose revision if their implants are likely to cause a medical problem. Others opt for surgery to keep their breasts looking and feeling as beautiful and natural as possible. Consult with your cosmetic surgeon to determine whether you need breast implant revision.