Although breast augmentation can be an entirely positive and transformative experience for many women, it’s also possible to want to revise your outcome at some point after surgery.
This may be for aesthetic reasons. Perhaps you’ve decided that the implant size you originally chose is no longer ideal for you, or a slight asymmetry or rippling of the skin needs to be remedied. Or, it can be for health-related reasons. Perhaps larger implants are causing back pain or you are concerned about a leak or rupture.
In any of these cases, breast revision surgery can address your concerns and remedy the issue. Dr. Aghayan has extensive experience performing breast revision surgery and can give you an in-depth evaluation to help determine your goals and an optimal solution.
Breast revision offers numerous benefits. Depending on your pain points and ultimate goals for surgery, some benefits may be more advantageous to you than others.
Although most breast augmentation patients are extremely happy with their results, it is possible to experience complications after surgery. These may include the improper positioning of implants after surgery, capsular contracture, rippling or wrinkling of the implants beneath the skin, leaks and ruptures, or other issues. Breast revision surgery can safely and effectively take care of these problems.
Your original surgeon may have done their best to accommodate your wishes and choose the optimal implant size and shape for your body type and desired results. However, it’s still possible that your ultimate goals were not achieved. In these cases, revision surgery allows you to change your implant size or shape and achieve the silhouette you’re truly after.
Whether you’ve chosen to remove your breast implants entirely or you’ve simply opted to change their size and shape, getting what you want out of your breast revision surgery is naturally the biggest benefit. Achieving your ultimate aesthetic and health goals will help you feel more confident about your appearance and more comfortable in your skin and clothes.
Whether your concerns are cosmetic or health-related, you may be a candidate for breast revision surgery when you are dissatisfied with your current implants and are considering having them removed, adjusted, or replaced.
Often, breast revision patients have concerns about issues such as breast drooping, ripples beneath the skin, asymmetry, or scar tissue. You may also be considering a new implant size, shape, or style.
Candidates for breast revision surgery should be physically healthy and at a stable weight. Finally, it’s important to have realistic expectations about breast surgery.
The decision to get breast revision surgery is often best discussed with Dr. Aghayan directly. Whether or not Dr. Aghayan was the surgeon who performed your original breast augmentation surgery, he can assess your situation and pain points and present you with the best solution.
In this way, it is important to book your consultation appointment as soon as you know that breast revision surgery may be something you desire. However, remember that you must generally wait at least six months after your original augmentation surgery to get revision surgery.
Bring any pertinent medical records with you to your consultation appointment, and have a clear idea of the changes you’d like to see with your revision. Also bring a list of any medications or supplements you are taking as these may need to be adjusted as your surgery date approaches.
In some cases, Dr. Aghayan may order lab tests or other medical evaluations prior to your procedure. You will also be asked to stop drinking alcohol and smoking before your surgery date.
Breast revision is typically an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll be able to go home on the same day as your surgery.
All revision surgeries are different, meaning surgical steps will depend on multiple factors. In most cases, however, breast revision surgeries follow this routine pattern
Dr. Aghayan will decide on the placement of your incisions before surgery. Placement will vary depending on the changes you’re making with surgery.
Transaxillary incisions (in the armpit), periareolar incisions (along the lower border of the areola), inframammary incisions (beneath the breast fold), and TUBA incisions (transumbilical, through the belly button) are all possible.
The required tightening, repositioning, and implant removal/replacement procedures will be performed.
Finally, the incisions will be carefully sealed.
The vast majority of patients who undergo breast revision surgery do not have issues with their recovery. It is an extremely common procedure. Still, as with any surgery, there are some risks and complications that all patients should be aware of. These include:
A brief observation period will follow your breast revision surgery, after which you will be released to go home. How long your overall recovery period lasts will largely depend on what was involved in your surgery.
Reconstruction and grafting will necessarily require a longer recovery — sometimes up to six to eight weeks.
Initially, when you get home, you should expect some light bruising and swelling. This will disappear with time, and as it does, you’ll begin to see the results from your revision. Be sure to attend all your postoperative appointments with Dr. Aghayan and follow his care instructions closely. Dr. Aghayan will monitor your healing and results and let you know when you can return to daily activities such as work and exercise.
Breast revision surgery is often combined with procedures such as:
Many patients who have benefitted from breast augmentation surgery would also benefit from a breast lift. In fact, it’s not uncommon for patients to think they want implants when, in fact, a breast lift would be better.
If you are having your implants removed or altered, consider a breast lift to reposition the breasts higher on the chest, improve nipple protrusion, and create an overall more attractive and youthful appearance.
Breast revision surgery may empower you to improve other areas of your body as well. Liposuction is an extremely common procedure that removes small pockets of stubborn fat from areas like the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, and thighs.
Tummy tucks target weak abdominal muscles and excess skin on the tummy. By removing loose, hanging skin and strengthening the core muscles, you’ll achieve a flatter, smoother abdomen that looks great bare and under clothing.
These are the most common questions we receive about breast revisions.
What if Dr. Aghayan wasn’t my original surgeon?
Even if Dr. Aghayan was not your original surgeon, he can perform your breast revision surgery. It is critical to choose a plastic surgeon like Dr. Aghayan, who has experience performing breast revision surgery, because this procedure is often more complicated than original breast augmentation.
If you are a past patient of Dr. Aghayan and would like to speak with him about revising a surgery he performed, be sure to book an appointment to discuss the issues you are having or schedule a surgery for new implants.
What conditions can be improved with breast revision surgery?
One of the main reasons for pursuing breast revision surgery is to adjust the size of your implants. Perhaps you are looking for smaller or larger implants, or you would like to have your implants removed completely. Other patients may be interested in changing from saline implants to silicone — often to correct placement issues (“bottoming out”).
Other issues that can be corrected with breast revision surgery include:
Is breast revision less painful?
For some patients, breast revision surgery is briefer and involves less downtime and soreness than the original augmentation surgery. However, this will largely depend what your revision surgery will involve. Overall, reconstructive revision surgery or surgery that involves grafting can require a recovery of up to six to eight weeks.
How long do you have to wait for a breast revision?
Some women become aware that they’d like to undergo breast revision surgery as soon they see the results from their original augmentation surgery. However, it’s important to wait for full recovery before determining your next steps. If, in the end, you are still unsatisfied with elements of your original surgery, it’s important to wait at least six months after your first surgery date to undergo revision surgery.
Can revision surgery fix breast asymmetry?
Yes. Breast revision surgery is often used to correct an asymmetry that was caused by original surgery. Depending on the severity of the asymmetry, Dr. Aghayan may recommend using implants or simple structural adjustments to make the correction.
How long is recovery for breast revision?
This depends on the type of revision being performed. For some patients whose surgeries require reconstruction and grafting, it could take six to eight weeks to recover. Every woman’s body is different, so it’s important to discuss your recovery and self-care plans with Dr. Aghayan so that you know what to expect.
Will I have new scars?
Whenever possible, Dr. Aghayan will try to make incisions for breast revision surgery in the same places as your original augmentation incisions. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to make incisions in new locations.
Revision surgery may use a transaxillary incision (in the armpit), a periareolar incision (along the lower border of the areola), an inframammary incision (beneath the breast fold), or TUBA incision (transumbilical, through the belly button).
The best way to mitigate the appearance of scars after surgery is to closely follow the scar care instructions provided to you by Dr. Aghayan after surgery. When cared for properly, any new incisions will heal flat and blend with your normal skin.
Contact Us
503-212-9411
