Breast Implant Revision (Correction of Cosmetic and Reconstruction Surgery Done Elsewhere)

When a saline implant leaks, it deflates, and the breast loses its added volume. Since your body will naturally absorb the saline solution, there are no adverse health effects, but the cosmetic effect will be noticeable.

When a silicone implant ruptures or leaks, the breast appearance doesn’t typically change, but implant removal will prevent the leaked silicone from spreading into the surrounding tissue over time. The FDA recommends regular ultrasounds and MRIs for women with silicone implants, to asses implant integrity.

Implants don’t need to be replaced on a schedule, and the commonly held belief that they need to be replaced after 10 years is not accurate. Some implants will last for 20 years or more, while some will fail after just a few years. Because there’s so much variation, it’s important to have your implants examined regularly by a healthcare professional.

It’s important to let your body heal after your original augmentation procedure to allow all post-operative swelling to disappear. At that time, you should see the final results of your breast augmentation. For these reasons, you should wait at least six months after your initial augmentation before considering revision for cosmetic reasons. 

There may be medical reasons for intervening before six months, such as pain or discomfort or complications from infection. These kinds of problems, of course, require immediate attention.

The body naturally forms a layer of scar tissue, or “capsule,” around all implanted medical devices, including breast implants. In most cases, the scar tissue remains relatively thin and flexible. However, it sometimes hardens and thickens in a painful condition known as capsular contracture, which can put pressure on the implants and distort their shape. 

To alleviate the concerns associated with capsular contracture, I remove some or all of the hardened scar tissue during a breast revision procedure. I also may use a dermal or bioabsorbable graft/sling to help prevent the reformation of capsular contracture.

Left untreated, capsular contracture can grow worse over time. The scar tissue can continue to thicken and harden, increasing pressure on the implant and the likelihood of discomfort, pain, and distorted breast shape.

Changing to smaller implants can result in loose skin and sagging breasts, especially if there’s a considerable difference in implant size with the revision. I will assess the likelihood of loose skin after revision as part of our consultation and may recommend a breast lift as part of the procedure to ensure attractive and natural-looking results.

You can choose to have your implants removed without replacement. Many women do, preferring to return to their pre-augmentation figure. In some cases, especially when larger implants are removed, this can leave the breasts looking hollow or deflated, and sometimes saggy, a problem that can be prevented by combining a breast lift with implant removal.

I almost always follow the same incision lines used in the original augmentation procedure, so my breast revisions may not result in new scars. If you have a breast lift as part of the revision procedure, you may need new incisions. I will carefully hide these within your natural breast contours, where the resulting scars will be almost invisible.  After surgery, we will monitor your healing closely and make personalized recommendations for scar management.

Request a consultation with Dr. Spiro today!

Every breast revision procedure is customized to the needs, concerns, and wishes of the patient. The costs of the surgery vary with the unique aspects of the procedure, including the type of implant being removed or replaced, whether the surrounding breast tissue must be removed, and whether the breast is being reshaped with a breast lift procedure. As part of your consultation, I will explain all the costs of the procedure so that you can make your decision with a full understanding of what to expect.

In general, insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery. Exceptions for original breast augmentation procedures include breast reconstruction after mastectomy or traumatic injury. Exceptions for breast revision can, in some cases, include surgery to correct capsular contracture, ruptured silicone implants, or other complications, which may be deemed medically necessary. Even then, only part of the procedure’s cost may be covered. I always encourage patients to consult with their insurance provider to understand what their insurance will or will not cover.

Request a consultation with Dr. Spiro today!