At Face N Body Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Park is dedicated on providing as many resources as possible for women who may be considering a breast revision surgery.
Women that have already received breast surgery in the past, may have become dissatisfied with their look and may require revision surgery to correct a number of problems.
Watch how an internal bra works using Strattice
Dr. Park discusses using Strattice Cellular Matrix for creating an internal bra support
Dr. Park demonstrates using Strattice Cellular Matrix for creating the internal bra support and repairing a capsular contracture
What is breast revision surgery?
Breast revision surgery is a procedure to improve or correct any complication from a previous breast augmentation surgery. These complications may be a result to changes in the body by aging, or from post-surgical issues resulting in reduced quality of life. Secondly, a woman’s body may change in unexpected ways over time or they may simply desire a different look which requires breast revision surgery.
What types of breast problems require breast revision surgery
- Asymmetry — when breasts are uneven or differ in appearance in terms of their size, shape and position
- Ptosis – a condition where the breast sag
- Capsular contracture – where hard calcified tissue begins to surround the breast implant distorting it’s appearance
- Breast implant deflation — Leaking from the breast implant often due to a failure in the breast implant shell
- Breast implant extrusion — when the skin starts to thin and separate around the implant and begins to stick out of the skin
- Breast implant malposition or displacement – when the implant moves from it’s correct position
- Breast implant palpability — a condition where the implant can be felt through the skin
- Breast implant visibility — when the implant can be seen through the skin
- Breast implant ripping or winkling under certain postures
- Breast inflammation or irritation of the breast tissue
- Breast implant rupturing — when there is a tear or hole in the implant’s outer shell
- Breast seroma — where fluid begins to surround the breast implant
- Breast tissue atrophy – thinning and shrinking of the skin
- Unsatisfactory appearance – due to implant style or size
- Difficulties with breast feeding
- Pain in breast
If someone is experiencing any of these complications after breast augmentation surgery, they may require specific treatments to correct the problem, including additional surgery.
The most common breast complications and adverse outcomes
The most common adverse complications associated with breast augmentation are:
- Capsular contracture
- Breast implant deflation due to rupturing of the implant.
What is capsular contracture?
Capsular contracture is a condition of hardening of the breast around the breast implant. It can occur simultaneously in either one or both implants at the same time. This calcified hardening creates a leather like tissue around the implant that constricts the implant. This condition can be painful while distorting the appearance of the breast.
There are four grading types of capsular contracture, they are known as Baker Grades
- Baker Grade I – is normally soft and looking natural
- Baker Grade II – is a little firmer but looks normal
- Baker Grade III – is pretty firm and starts to look abnormal
- Baker Grade IV – is hard, painful, and looks abnormal
- Baker Grades III and IV capsular contracture are the most severe. They may require reoperation or implant removal altogether.
Capsular contracture, whether it is mild, moderate or even severe, may occur more than once in the same breast which then includes using more advanced surgical techniques like Strattice Cellular Matrix to prevent re-occurrence.
How is breast revision surgery different from other breast surgeries?
Breast revision surgery is more complex and requires more advanced surgical skills and technique than what is required from an primary breast augmentation.
Are a candidate for breast revision surgery?
If you’ve had a previous breast enhancement procedure and are unhappy with the results, you may be a candidate for breast revision. The ideal candidate should be in good health, both physically and mentally, and maintain realistic expectations about the outcome of their procedure.
How is the breast improved with breast revision surgery?
Breast revision surgery can correct a large number of issues, including problems with breast implant placement or asymmetry issues, while improving the appearance of previous surgical scars as well.
By either removing the scar tissue around the breast implant as a result of capsular contracture, re-adjustment of the implant, or repair sagging tissue, the goal is to give you beautiful and natural looking results.
Will my health insurance company pay for breast revision surgery?
Some health insurance companies may cover parts of a breast revision surgery. However, we encourage our patients to contact their insurance provider for verification of coverage related to a particular revision procedure.
Face N Body Cosmetic Surgery also provides a number of financing options for patients whose procedure is not covered by insurance.
What can be expected during a breast revision surgery?
Each woman has different needs for corrective surgery. Dr. Park approaches each condition uniquely when performing a breast revision surgery. He focus on delivering the very best results for each woman based on their desired appearance and concerns.
It’s very common for breast revision surgery to include more than one procedure including:
- Breast implant removal
- Breast implant replacement
- Capsular contracture scar removal
- Scarpa Fascia repair to fix bottoming-out syndrome
- The placement of an internal surgical bra using Strattice Cellular Matrix to prevent re-occurrence of capsular contracture, or firming up the breast from ptosis.
A breast revision could also include a breast reduction or lift to help re-position and reshape the natural breast tissue for the best outcome.
Regardless of the specifics of your surgery, Dr. Park will make every effort to use existing scars for their incisions to minimize future scarring and ensure beautiful results.
What is the recovery like after breast revision surgery?
Most women generally feel sore which is accompanied by some swelling. Someone can expect to be in discomfort initially for several days, although this may vary from patient to patient as well as and how extensive a revision was performed, including what type of incisions were used and whether or not an breast augmentation was included with the procedure. Most women are able to return to work after a week or so.
What type of results can someone expect after breast revision surgery?
Dr. Park is committed to delivering results in keeping with the patient’s expectations. Breasts should look natural, more symmetrical, with less visible scarring after fully healing. It’s important to understand that breast improvement is held as the goal of revision surgery for either aesthetic reasons or betterment of lifestyle, rather than unreasonable expectations. Dr. Park will carefully discuss what those expectation will be prior to surgery.
Are breast revision results permanent?
Breast revision surgery is generally considered a permanent procedure. However, sometimes additional surgery may be required due to complications, although this is very rare.
Unfortunately, breast revision surgery doesn’t stop the aging process. A patient that has undergone a breasts revision, will continue to age, along with the affects of gravity, will have on their breasts over time.
It is not uncommon for a woman who previously had a large breast augmentation when she was younger, to desire a smaller breast size when she is older, requiring breast revision surgery to obtain the desired results.