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What is breast revision surgery?

Breast revision surgery is performed to correct various aesthetic or health issues associated with breast augmentation. Not all breast augmentation surgeries are successful. The breasts may become hard and uncomfortable due to the development of excessive scar tissue, causing a condition called “capsular contracture,” which must be surgically corrected. The breast implants may have been in place for many years and must be replaced, or an implant may have ruptured. 

Breast Revision Introduction

Dr. Shah and Dr. Farber discuss Breast Revision surgery
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Why choose Hill Country Plastic Surgery for breast revision?

At Hill Country Plastic Surgery, a highly-trained, experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will perform your breast revision in San Antonio & Boerne, TX. Dr. Scott J. Farber and Dr. Amita Shah are leading authorities in the field and resolve breast problems with advanced surgical techniques. Beyond their exceptional surgical skills, they are compassionate, understanding, and focused on delivering the highest level of personalized care throughout the process of breast revision surgery. 

Why undergo breast revision surgery?

Many women who have had breast augmentation surgeries are dismayed to see an outcome that does not meet their expectations. Other women may love their breasts, but the implants have been in place for so many years that they need to be replaced. The reasons to undergo this custom surgery include:

  • The saline implant has deflated
  • Leaking silicone implant
  • Scar tissue has tightened around the implant (capsular contracture)
  • A desire for larger or smaller breasts
  • Implants have shifted position
  • Health concerns about the type of implants and health risks
  • Breast pain
  • Implants too high or too low on the chest wall
  • Breasts at different heights on the chest
  • Implants are “bottoming out,” with nipples too high on the breast mound
  • Symmastia is a condition in which the breast implants merge at the mid-chest
  • Rippling

What is the procedure?

Every breast revision surgery is unique, with the surgical plan created to match the condition of the individual. It is performed with the patient under general anesthesia and may require one to three hours to complete. The incisions will vary, based on the corrections required. The incisions may be:

  • Inframammary: The incisions are created in the natural fold beneath the breasts.
  • Periareolar: The incisions are placed around the areola, the darker tissue surrounding the nipple.

Capsular contracture correction

If you are experiencing capsular contracture, surgery will be necessary to remove the implant and the scar tissue that has formed around it, an advanced procedure called an en bloc capsulectomy. It is normal for scar tissue to form around breast implants, but in some women, the scarring is more extreme, squeezing around the implant, making the breast hard, out of position, and generally very uncomfortable. When the capsule of scar tissue, along with the implant, is removed intact. This may be important, as if the implant is leaking silicone (which is not common), it is held within the capsule, and can be removed when taking out the implant. 

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Replacing breast implants

Breast implants do not last forever. At some point, they will need to be replaced. Implants don’t expire, and if they are comfortable and have no problems, you don’t need to have them replaced. Implants last from ten to twenty years, but could last longer, or may fail long before the ten year mark. 

Implant rupture

A saline implant that has ruptured is an obvious situation, as the breast will deflate. The saline solution is simply absorbed by the body, and not harmful, but the aesthetic problem of a deflated breast must be resolved as quickly as possible. 

Silicone breast implants rarely rupture, but when they do, the problem is not obvious. Women with silicone implants, which are the majority, should undergo an MRI three years after the augmentation, and then every two years. 

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Returning to a natural breast size

Some women choose to undergo a custom breast lift in the same surgery, and rather than placing new implants, they choose to return to their natural breast size, with the natural tissue lifted and excess skin removed to create a plump, healthy look.

A subtle increase in breast volume can be achieved with natural fat transfer, for volume enhancement without placing implants.

What is the recovery time?

Your recovery will be like what you experienced after a breast augmentation and is generally uneventful and relatively fast. Plan to take a week off work or other activities to allow your body to heal, and for swelling and bruising to fade. You will have pain medication to keep you comfortable in the early stage of recovery. Take the time to rest, avoid vigorous motions, lifting, raising your arms, or exercise, other than walks. You should feel normal in about two to three weeks, and most patients can return to their exercise routine at the four to six-week mark. At Hill Country Plastic Surgery, we closely monitor our patients throughout the recovery process and are always available. 

View Our Pre & Post-Op Instructions

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Your journey to a happier, more confident life starts with a private, in-depth consultation with your surgeon, where we learn about you and your vision and goals. Discover San Antonio’s premier clinic for plastic surgery.

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