Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for a reason—the vast majority of women are thrilled with their results. So why would a woman choose to undergo a second procedure, called breast implant revision surgery? At our Fort Worth practice, patients have various reasons for this.
Even though breast implants are more durable than ever, they aren’t designed to last multiple decades. There isn’t a definitive answer as to how long implants last, but most patients replace their implants 10 to 20 years after their breast augmentation surgery. Many women who had the first generation of silicone gel implants inserted after the FDA re-approved them in 2006, for example, are now getting breast revision surgery.
Implant complications that occur over time include:
- Rupture
- Visible wrinkling or rippling
- Discomfort associated with capsular contracture
Complications and implants wearing out, however, aren’t the only reasons it might be time to get breast augmentation revision surgery. In this blog post, I’ll describe a number of other reasons for elective breast implant revision surgery and also explain why it’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with breast revision experience to perform what can be a complicated procedure.
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Getting Newer Implants
Even when there isn’t anything wrong with the breast implants, some women decide they want a newer generation of implants that can improve their results. A good example of this is when a patient who has saline implants decides to get cohesive silicone gel implants, including “gummy bear implants,” which are extremely popular now. Approximately 8 out of 10 patients choose silicone gel breast implants at my Fort Worth practice because they have a look and feel more like natural breast tissue.
Dissatisfaction With Results
Some women who underwent breast augmentation surgery elsewhere come to our practice because they’re not happy with the results. There are various complications that may occur if a surgeon doesn’t have the experience or technical skill to create satisfying results. These include implant malposition (dropping too low in the breast or migrating to the middle or the sides), which can look unnatural.
Some patients also regret their choice of implant size and are willing to undergo a second procedure to change their selection. This can occur whether patients want bigger or smaller implants, but the majority of cases involve women who wish they had chosen larger implants to begin with.
Choosing the Right Surgeon
Whatever the reason for seeking breast implant revision, choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is especially important. For a number of reasons, including the presence of scar tissue, revision surgery poses more challenges than the initial breast augmentation procedure. I encourage you to look at before-and-after photos of some of my breast revision patients to get a good idea of the kind of results you can expect.
You can also get more information about the procedure by using the online form to request a consultation or by calling our office at (817) 228-4315 to schedule an appointment.
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