18 May Do You Need Breast Augmentation Revision? 3 Reasons Implants Can Bottom Out
Revising A Breast Augmentation
Desired by many, breast augmentation is 1 of the most popular plastic surgeries performed in the US. Every year, hundreds of thousands of women undergo the procedure to enhance a body profile or reconstruct the breasts after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. In most cases, patients who opt for breast implants are happy with the results, but sometimes a breast augmentation revision surgery is required.
Defining the surgery
Breast augmentation revision is a secondary surgery a woman would elect to have performed. The procedure is usually treated as a corrective process to address various concerns, including aesthetic and health needs. A few specific scenarios can lead to a revision.
1. Cosmetic concerns
There are many reasons a woman may not be satisfied with the current look of the breasts. For example, a woman may desire to go up or down in volume. Some individuals may decide that while the implant volume is fine, a breast lift or mastopexy is needed to raise the breasts and further improve the profile to achieve the desired aesthetic results. For others, the original surgery could have been performed incorrectly, and the implants need to be repositioned.
2. Capsular contracture
Although most people with breast implants heal according to plan, not all women can say the same. When breast implants are inserted, the body forms scar tissue around the foreign objects. When this process happens as expected, the scar tissue remains soft but aids in holding the implant in place. For some individuals, the scarring hardens and becomes dense. As a result, pain can also occur, leading to capsular contracture. In some cases, the abnormality can cause the implant to become misshapen, leading to an odd profile or raising the breasts higher than intended. Revision surgery is the best solution to correct the problem.
3. Issues with the implants
Another common reason to request a revision surgery centers around problems with the implants. In particular, if an implant has ruptured or is leaking, a woman will need corrective surgery to replace the damaged material. Likewise, some people may decide to switch materials, such as from silicone to saline. Additionally, some individuals must replace the original implants after 10 years for safety reasons.
Is revision the right choice?
Women considering breast implants should know that augmentation revision surgeries aren’t common. Most individuals will achieve the desired results from the initial breast implant procedure. As such, any person considering changes to breast implants should speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon, as the procedure needs to be catered to each specific case.