Breast revision restores comfort and improves the appearance of breasts after surgery-related complications, genetic defects, or a desired change in previously augmented breasts. Breast implant revision allows women to restore a more natural appearance to breasts that have implant deformities. This procedure can also change the size and shape of the breasts for patients who are unhappy with the look or feel of their breasts after augmentation.

Breast implant revision can help women regain their self-esteem and physical well-being by repairing breast concerns, whether they appear soon after breast enhancement surgery or are prompted by lifestyle and aging changes.

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During your consultation, Dr. Patronella will examine your breasts to determine whether or not you are a candidate for breast revision.

Breast revision may benefit you if you experience one or more of the following after your initial breast augmentation:

Implant rupture

Capsular contracture

Implant displacement

Noticeable breast asymmetry

Congenital deformities of the breasts

Underdeveloped breasts

The desire to change implant size

Candidates should be in good overall health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations of their results.

Dr. Patronella performs corrective breast surgery on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. The surgery typically takes between 1 and 3 hours.

It may consist of a single technique or a combination of methods depending on the breast concern. Frequently Dr. Patronella incorporates an “internal bra” made of an absorbable material which helps improve the position of implants and reinforce soft tissues.

After implant placement, a capsule of scar tissue forms around the implant. Occasionally, this scar tissue will tighten, causing the implant to shift and harden in the breast pocket. This squeezing often leads to physical pain and an unnatural breast appearance.

The implant and the surrounding scar tissue must be removed and the capsule repaired before your plastic surgeon can perform a breast implant replacement. This procedure is called a capsulectomy, and several types can be performed. Breast revision with a smaller implant often requires a capsulectomy.

Bottoming out is a form of implant displacement where the breast implant falls below the inframammary crease. This condition may occur when a heavy implant is surrounded by weak or thin breast tissue.

During this procedure, the implant is repositioned, and the breast fold is tightened. This can eliminate the appearance of a ‘double bubble’ below the breast.

Some asymmetry is common after breast augmentation, as nearly all natural breasts have some degree of asymmetry to begin with. Fortunately for most patients, this asymmetry is usually not noticeable to the naked eye. However, some women develop more apparent differences between the size and placement of each breast.

Breast revision for asymmetry involves repositioning the implant and tightening the tissues so that the breasts sit more symmetrically. Occasionally, an implant will need to be exchanged for one of a different size to facilitate this.

Some women’s breasts fail to develop normally due to congenital issues, such as tubular breast deformity. Breast revision can correct breast deformities to restore a natural look to underdeveloped breasts or constricted breast tissue. To produce natural-looking results in these patients, Dr. Patronella commonly combines several techniques to create breast crease definition and shapely contours.

Preferences change over time, and some women may decide they want to alter the size or profile of their implants to achieve a different look. Breast revision allows women to exchange their current implants for alternative sizes, shapes, filling materials, or textures.

The old implant will be removed, the breast pocket will be expanded or tightened as needed, and the new implant will be added.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Patronella to learn more about his approach to True Form Aesthetic Breast Surgery®.

© 2024 Christopher K. Patronella, MD, FACS, FICS

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