Breast Augmentation Revision

Breast Augmentation Revision Before & After Photos

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Women come to our Calgary practice for breast augmentation revision surgery for various reasons.

Some want to replace older breast implants with updated models, or they're disappointed with the results achieved by another surgeon. Others want to change the size of their implants.

A common theme in all breast augmentation revision surgeries is that the procedure is generally more complicated than the initial operation and requires an experienced, Royal College-certified plastic surgeon with the surgical skills needed to produce the desired results.

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Your Revision Procedure

There are a number of factors that make breast augmentation revision more complex than the initial breast augmentation surgery. The unique challenges include the presence of scar tissue that forms around the implant, skin stretched by the implants, and a chest anatomy that may be compromised. Our surgeons at Macleod Trail Plastic Surgery are among the few in the Calgary area who possess the expertise needed to perform revision procedures.

Depending on the specific reason for performing revision surgery, the procedure may include:

Repairing an implant pocket

The pocket created during the initial augmentation surgery might be too large or in the wrong position. Our surgeons may need to use acellular dermal matrix — made of collagen — to create a tighter, more supportive implant pocket that's positioned correctly.

Changing the implants' location

In some cases, it's necessary to change a subglandular placement — above the pectoral muscle — to a submuscular or dual-plane placement. Our surgeons typically prefer the dual-plane approach because it avoids the visible rippling that can occur with a subglandular placement, but still looks more natural than an implant placed completely behind the muscle.

Combining a breast lift with revision surgery

Breasts change over time, with or without implants. For women who are exchanging implants that are several years old, our surgeons may recommend including a breast lift with the surgery to create a more youthful appearance.

Each of these techniques requires a surgeon — such as Dr. Whidden, Dr. Humphreys, or Dr. Byers — with advanced training and technical skills.

Reasons for Revision Surgery

Most women who get breast implants are very happy with their outcomes and experience no complications. In fact, our surgeons perform many elective breast augmentation revision procedures — meaning the patients choose to either replace or remove breast implants even when there aren't complications. Augmentation revision procedures fall into two general categories:

Elective Implant Exchange

By exchanging older implants for a newer generation of implants, women have the chance to improve the look and feel of their results. For example, patients may want to replace saline implants with the cohesive silicone gel implants now available. Or they may want to change the size, shape, or profile of their implants, or change the location from above or below the muscle.

Cosmetic Concerns

There are a range of issues that create visible deformities associated with breast augmentation. Often, these can be caused when an inexperienced surgeon improperly plans or executes the initial procedure. Rippling, synmastia ("uniboob"), and "double-bubble" are some of these issues. The most common complication is capsular contracture, a condition in which the capsule that forms naturally around the implant tightens and makes an implant feel hard and appear misshapen. Another concern is an implant that sits either too low or too high on the chest wall.

Recovery

As with primary breast augmentation surgery, women initially wake up in the recovery room after the procedure. Our surgeons and nurses monitor their progress and ensure they're ready to return home, which usually occurs about two hours after the surgery. Detailed post-op instructions are provided to each patient to help keep them comfortable and minimize the risk of complications. The recovery is similar to that following an initial augmentation procedure, but may take a bit longer, depending on the reason for the revision surgery.

If you're considering a revision augmentation procedure to exchange breast implants, request a consultation using the online form to meet privately with one of our plastic surgeons. Or call our office at (403) 452-7953 to schedule an appointment.

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Our staff at Macleod Trail Plastic Surgery in Calgary is dedicated and available to answer any questions you may have about our practice and the plastic surgery procedures we offer. Fields marked with * are required.