Breast Implant Revision

The beauty of breast augmentation surgery is that it offers you the flexibility of changing your mind in the future. Following breast augmentation, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, menopause, and other hormonal changes may affect your original plastic surgery results. In rare cases, breast implants may shift, rupture, or cause problems such as capsular contracture, which causes the breasts to feel hard, and requires the removal or replacement of breast implants. You may wish to exchange saline for silicone implants or vice versa, or you may simply decide you want to experiment with implants of a different size or shape, or even to have your implants removed altogether.

Our team of specialists at Houston Dermatology and Plastic Surgery will help you select the most natural looking implants to update your look as you desire.

Breast Revision Consultation and Planning

During your initial consultation, we will explain how to prepare for breast revision surgery and you may ask our experts any questions you may have about the breast procedure. Our surgeon will evaluate your medical history, as well as the condition of your skin, and any medications you may be currently taking. As with your original breast augmentation procedure, you may be required to suspend the use of certain medications, as well as refraining from using alcohol and tobacco, for a few days before and after surgery to minimize risk and achieve the best results.

The Breast Revision Procedure

Breast revision surgery takes place in our outpatient surgery center and normally performed under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes less than two hours, unless you choose to combine it with other procedures such as a breast lift (mastopexy) during the same session, in which case it may take longer to complete. To minimize scarring, our surgeon will generally perform the breast revision surgery by using the same incisions that were created during your original breast augmentation procedure.

Recovery After Breast Revision

Breast revision surgery requires anesthesia, so you should plan to have someone drive you home after the procedure and provide basic home care so that you can spend at least two full days resting, with minimal physical activity. It is normal to experience some tenderness and swelling around the incision, but any discomfort may be relieved with oral pain medication. As with your original surgery, you will have to wear a compressive bra to support and protect the breast tissue while accelerating the healing process, and avoid strenuous activity for about three to four weeks. If your job requires lifting, movement of the upper body, or strenuous physical activity, we recommend that you take at least two full weeks off work after surgery.

Breast Revision Results

Breast revision produces results similar to those of your original breast augmentation procedure, but with the updated look of new implants of a different size, shape, or material. Many patients choose to complement the breast revision procedure with a breast lift or body contouring treatments to achieve a more comprehensive makeover.

If your breast implants need updating, or you’d like to try a different look, contact Houston Dermatology and Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation with one of our expert surgeons to discuss your breast revision surgery.