Years ago, you had breast augmentation and thought that you’d be happy with your new breasts for many years, if not the rest of your life. But as the years have gone by, you’ve experienced some changes in your body or in your tastes and preferences, and now you’re thinking that your implants aren’t really for you.
Fortunately, the results from breast augmentation aren’t meant to last forever. Breast implant revision or removal is something you can expect to have to think about at least once in your life after implants. There are a few cases that call for breast implant revision. Find out if it’s time to repair or replace your existing implants.
You Went Too Big — Or Too Small
Even with sizers and advice from your plastic surgeon, it can be difficult to say with any certainty whether one size and shape of implants is going to be the right option for you. Some women find that they erred on the size of too large when picking their implants while others find that they didn’t go big enough and want a do-over.
Even if you loved your implants right after the surgery, your preferences might have changed as the years have gone on. You might find living life with a D cup brings its own challenges and barriers, which you didn’t anticipate before surgery.
Whether you’d like smaller or larger implants in place of your existing ones, your surgeon can perform a breast implant exchange to swap out one size for another.
Your Implants Have Shifted
While a breast implant exchange can replace one size of implants with a different size (or get rid of your implants altogether), revision procedures typically focus on correcting problems with the implants or breasts themselves.
One problem that can come up and need fixing is if the implants have shifted or moved position in the breasts. As you get older, your breast tissue might become weaker or thinner and no longer able to support the weight of the implant. That can cause the implant to move and create a weird shape or deformity. In some cases, the implants might make your breasts look fuller on the bottom. In other cases, one breast might look larger or appear to be in a different position than the other.
You’re Dealing With Capsular Contracture
Modern breast augmentation techniques typically greatly reduce the risk that you’ll develop capsular contracture, or scar tissue that forms around the implant. But the issue still occurs in a small number of women. In the early stages, capsular contracture might not cause any symptoms. But if the scar tissue continues to harden and squeeze the implant, you can feel pain and might notice that your breasts become deformed.
During breast implant revision, your surgeon will cut away the scar tissue, freeing the trapped implant. The implant will also be replaced with a smaller, larger or same-sized model. Your surgeon will also show you how to perform exercises to massage the breasts and implants after surgery, reducing the risk for another episode of capsular contracture.
You Can See Your Implants Through the Skin
Depending on several factors, such as the type of implants you have, the positioning of the implants and the amount of breast tissue you have, it can be possible to see the implants just below the surface of the skin. The problem is usually more common with saline implants, so it might be worth replacing them with silicone. If you have little breast tissue or thin skin and the surgeon initially placed the implants over the muscle, revision surgery to reposition them under the muscle might be in order.
Your Breasts Have Changed
Just like other areas of your body, your breasts change over time. They might get bigger or smaller as you age, have kids, or breastfeed. They might also change shape or loose some of their perkiness with age. Natural changes in your body can mean that the implants that looked great five or 10 years ago no longer look so great. It might be that a breast implant revision and breast lift is what you need to restore the shape and youthful appearance of your breasts.
In Houston, Texas, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Vitenas performs hundreds of breast revisions, breast augmentations and other breast procedures each month. He’s a top-rated surgeon with more than 30 years of experience. To learn more about breast implant revision, call 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas today.
