Breast augmentation has one of the highest satisfaction rates among cosmetic procedures. However, some women are not pleased with the outcome of their augmentation for one reason or the other. Luckily, skilled plastic surgeons can perform a secondary procedure – known as a breast revision – in order to correct or adjust the results of a previous breast enhancement surgery. When considering breast revision surgery, plastic surgeons start by diagnosing the problem, which means focusing on the cause of dissatisfaction. Once this is done, the surgeon will create an appropriate revision plan to meet your needs and desires. The majority of women who receive a revision breast surgery find that they feel happier and more positive.

Revision breast augmentation surgery tends to be more complicated than the initial procedure, typically because there may be less skin and breast tissue available. More so, a certain amount of trauma is already inflicted on the surrounding muscle and supportive tissue. It is important for breast revision patients to work with a highly-skilled specialist who has a keen eye for detail in order to achieve a satisfactory outcome once and for all.

Medicraft plastic surgeons Dr. Harish Ghildiyal perform breast implant revision in order to change or improve the appearance of female breasts. Dr. Harish Ghildiyal have helped numerous patients from Dehradun, and surrounding cities boost their self-confidence and self-esteem with this procedure. The surgeon understands that the needs of different women are unique and works to create a highly customized treatment plan to suit the needs of each patient.

Who is a Candidate for Breast Revision?

Breast revision surgery usually involves the removal and replacement of implants for an initial breast augmentation procedure. Patients may elect to receive this treatment in order to improve the appearance of their breasts or to correct complications resulting from the original breast implants procedure. You may be a good candidate for this corrective treatment if:

You are in excellent physical and emotional health
You are dissatisfied with the original size of your breast implants (i.e. you want a larger or smaller size)
You are unhappy with the outcome of your original breast augmentation surgery
You have capsular contracture – an often painful condition caused by the formation of scar tissue around the implant
You have other breast implants complications such as rippling, rupture, or deflation
You comprehend and understand the risks and rewards of this treatment

Dr. Harish Ghildiyal will reserve your first visit at his Medicraft Clinic to understand your needs and goals. The surgeon will listen to your concerns, ask questions, and learn about your medical history. Once the surgeon establishes the cause of your dissatisfaction, he will create an individualized revision plan to suit your needs. It is important that you are very honest with the surgeon so he can manage your expectations and ensure the best possible outcome. Keep in mind that factors such as pregnancy or plans for weight loss can impact the outcome of breast implants revision surgery.

Reasons for Breast Revision

Many women choose to have breast augmentation revision due to any of the following reasons:

Dissatisfaction with Breast size

Following an initial breast enhancement procedure, some patients are dissatisfied with the size. They feel that the new implants are either too large or too small for their liking. The surgeon will correct this by replacing the initial implants in order to achieve the desired breast size and volume. This happens to be one of the less complicated breast revision procedures.

Breast implant deflation

It is not uncommon for breast implants to leak or rupture. In fact, an analysis published on the NIH website reveals that there is a 3-5% risk of implant rupture within 3 years after breast augmentation. This risk goes up to between 7 and 10% at the 10-year mark. When saline implants rupture or leak, they lead to a deflated breast appearance. Although there is no health concern associated with this, most patients are dissatisfied with the aesthetic disfiguration. Silicone implants, on the other hand, can ‘leak’ silently without leading to a deflated breast appearance. Women who received this type of implant in their initial augmentation may need to undergo routine MRI imaging scans in order to detect possible leaks. Once your surgeon is presented with an implant leakage or rupture, he will create a plan to replace it with a new one. Since most implants come with some form of guarantee, part of the cost of the revision procedure may be covered by the implant manufacturer.

Capsular Contracture

This is another common complication after breast augmentation surgery. Capsular contracture occurs when scar tissue surrounding the implant hardens and squeezes the implant into an uncomfortable and awkward position. This may be caused by bleeding or trauma around the implant, infection in the breast, or other unknown factors. According to one scientific literature review published on NIH, the risk of capsular contracture stands at 10.6 percent. The majority of these cases (about 75%) will occur within 2 years after the implant is placed. your surgeon will decide on the best revision approach to correct the capsular contracture after evaluating the patient and determining the severity of the issue.

Implant Malpositioning

It is not uncommon for patients who received a breast augmentation to present with implant malpositioning at a later date. This occurs when the pocket holding the implant is too big or stretches, thus allowing the implant to drift out of place. Your surgeon may correct this issue by reducing the size of the implant pocket so it can adequately hold the implant.

Breast Rippling

Wrinkling or rippling may occur at the edges of the implants, leading to an unnatural breast appearance. This is more common with saline implants, particularly with women who are thin with little natural breast tissue surrounding the implant. Dr. Harish Ghildiyal can correct this breast augmentation anomaly by replacing your original implants within a type and size that is better suited for your natural anatomy and frame. It may also be possible to address this issue by adding tissue coverage over the initial implants using fat grafting or Alloderm.

‘Double Bubble’ Deformity

This is a rare complication that manifests when implants descend below the normal breast fold. This creates the impression of a second bulge right beneath the breast. Double bubbling deformity may also cause the implant to move upwards, particularly when caused by capsular contracture. This leads to a deflated or loose appearance in the lower part of your chest. Dr. Harish Ghildiyal may perform additional procedures such as a breast lift during the revision in order to address this complication.

Change of implant type

Some women who received saline implants for one reason or the other – may prefer to replace them with silicone gel implants. This is more common for women who had a Breast Augmentation between 1993 and 2006 when the silicone option was off the market for cosmetic purposes.

Implant Removal

Some women choose to have their breast implants removed altogether. This could be due to a change in lifestyle, a shift in cosmetic tastes, or waned dissatisfaction with the feel or look of the implants. For these patients, implant removal is the only preferred option. Dr. Harish Ghildiyal may perform a breast lift along with the revision in order to prevent a deflated appearance.

Regardless of your reason for considering breast revision surgery, Dr. Harish Ghildiyal will create an appropriate treatment plan to suit your goals. The surgeon knows that some of these procedures can be complex and will keep you involved through each step as he formulates the best way forward. Many of his breast augmentation revision patients enjoy an uplifting, excellent outcome after this procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of breast revision?

When performed by a skilled, board certified plastic surgeon, breast augmentation revision allows women to repair an implant complication, resize their breast implants, restore aesthetics and comfort, and return to a natural breast look and feel. Dr. Harish Ghildiyal are keen professionals who is committed to results and patient safety. The surgeon takes each case as unique and creates a customized treatment plan to meet your goals.

Will I need to combine my revision with a breast lift?

It is possible for some women to have their implants removed or replaced without breast sagging. Most women, however, experience moderate to severe breast ptosis that will need to be corrected with a mastopexy (breast lift) procedure. This cosmetic procedure will help raise and restore the patient’s breasts in order to achieve a perkier, youthful appearance after the revision surgery. Dr. Harish Ghildiyal can perform mastopexy at the same time as the revision procedure, or at a later date. Make sure to discuss your aesthetic concerns and the need for a breast lift during your initial consultation with the surgeon.

Is breast revision painful?

Dr. Harish Ghildiyal perform breast augmentation revision under general anesthesia in order to increase your safety and comfort throughout the surgery. Many patients experience mild pain, swelling, and bruising in the first few days of recovery. However, the surgeon will provide appropriate pain medication to alleviate this discomfort.

Will there be scars?

Scarring is an inevitable consequence after any surgical procedure where incisions are made in the skin. Where possible, Dr. Harish Ghildiyal will use the incision lines of the original breast augmentation procedure in order to minimize scarring. If a new incision is needed, the surgeon will make sure that it is as minimal as possible, and hidden in areas where it is hardly visible. Following your breast augmentation revision, Dr. Harish Ghildiyal will provide scar care guidelines to help ensure that your scars fade well and become virtually invisible over time.

Silicone vs Saline implants

Many women who are looking forward to having their breast implants replaced have to choose between saline and silicone gel implants. Saline implants (which are inserted empty, then filled with a sterile saltwater solution) are available to women over the age of 18. They tend to be more affordable but are more prone to rippling and wrinkling. Silicone implants, on the other hand, come pre-filled with a silicone gel solution and are available to women over the age of 22. These are more expensive and lead to a more natural breast feel. Women who receive silicone implants are encouraged to undergo periodic MRI scan guidelines to make sure that the implant is working correctly. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), about 88% of the more than 313,000 women who received a breast augmentation in 2018 used a silicone implant. The remaining 12% used a saline implant.

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