While it is common for patients to replace their breast implants after 10-15 years, there are several reasons they may need to be replaced sooner! If your breast augmentation does not deliver the natural-looking results you were hoping for, you experience complications with your implants, or you have noticed your natural breast skin aging and sagging, a breast implant revision can help.
If you are unsure, here are seven common signs you need revisionary surgery:
Your breast implants are causing pain or discomfort
Painful or uncomfortable implants can indicate several issues that require a breast implant revision. This can include capsular contracture, damaged lymph nodes, a developing seroma, pinched nerves, or poor implant placement. If you have silicone implants, pain can be a sign your implant has ruptured or is leaking.
Even if there is no serious issue causing pain, some patients find implants are uncomfortable enough to disrupt their daily lives, especially if the implant used was too large or poorly placed.
Regardless of the cause, persistent pain or irritation is not a normal result of breast augmentation surgery. Patients who are experiencing either should consult with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, who can properly examine the issue at hand and provide solutions that are in line with your aesthetic goals!
Your breast implant has ruptured
Implant rupture can be caused by sudden or intense physical pressure, like in a car accident, or through the natural aging and weakening of the implant shell.
A rupture in a saline implant causes a nearly immediate deflation of the affected breast, which makes it easy to diagnose. The saline solution inside the implant is the same as IV solution and is easily absorbed by the body. By contrast, ruptures in silicone implants cannot be diagnosed without an ultrasound or an MRI because the viscous silicone gel inside the implant leaks out slowly.
While the rupture of a breast implant is not a life-threatening emergency, it is important to have the damaged implant removed to prevent infection or the development of excessive internal scar tissue.
Your breast implant has bottomed out
If the skin and tissue cannot adequately support the breast implant, it is possible for the implant to gradually fall below the breast crease, or “bottom out.” This condition is more common with large or heavy implants, but post-surgery pregnancies or skin laxity due to age can also cause an implant to bottom out.
Drooping breasts are not uncommon. However, unlike breasts that fall naturally over time and include the nipple falling with the breast tissue, bottomed-out implants cause nipples to move upward as the implants fall lower. It is also common for patients to be able to feel and see the outline of a bottomed-out implant.
Your breast implant is moving or rotating
It is normal for breast implants to settle into a slightly different position over time. It is not normal for implants to move to a dramatically different location on the chest wall. This is called implant displacement, and there are several ways an implant can shift.
Lateral displacement of implants, which involves implants moving too far away from the midline of the chest, can occur when the implant pocket is too large.
An overly large implant pocket can also result in implant rotation. Patients may not be able to tell if a round implant has rotated, but a rotation of teardrop implants yields a top-heavy, unnatural appearance of the breast. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is best to ensure you are getting the most accurate diagnosis.
Your breast implant has changed shape
Implant shape can change if the implant ruptures, shifts, rotates, bottoms out or becomes otherwise displaced.
Changes in implant shape usually occur asymmetrically, meaning in one breast or the other. Even if both implants change shape, they may not change in the same way. This asymmetry is not medically risky, but it can cause patients significant emotional distress and make it very difficult to find bras and clothing that fit properly. At Synergy Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeons create full, feminine, natural-looking results and work to give a woman confidence and the freedom to wear clothes and bathing suits that showcase her figure! If you are experiencing discomfort with asymmetry, our surgeons can assess your unique situation and offer the most personalized solution.
Your breast implant is causing capsular contracture
The formation of scar tissue is a normal part of the healing process after placing any kind of medical or plastic surgery implant. Normally, this process is a good thing because the capsule of scar tissue helps support the implant, keeping it from slipping.
In some cases, however, the body mistakes the implant for a dangerous foreign object and creates excessive amounts of scar tissue to isolate it. This is known as capsular contracture, an overproduction of dense, hard tissue around the breast implant that can affect the success of the augmentation procedure.
There are four grades of capsular contracture, ranging from normal to severe:
- Grade one is asymptomatic and doesn’t interfere with the results of the implant.
- Grade two capsular contracture has only minor cosmetic symptoms, leaving the breast normal in shape but firmer to the touch.
- Capsular contracture of grades three and four causes hard, misshapen, and overly round breasts that look and feel unnatural.
- Grade four contracture also often results in breast pain. Patients with either grade three or four capsular contracture usually require a breast implant revision.
You are unhappy with your breast size
While most patients are happy with the results of their breast augmentation, some patients find they wish they had gotten a different size of implant – whether it be larger or smaller.
If you want to change the size of your implants, most doctors will recommend waiting about a year after your initial surgery before proceeding. Not only will this waiting period allow your body to fully heal, but it will also give your implants time to settle into their final position before you make this major decision.
Women visit us for breast augmentation revision surgery between the San Antonio and the Austin area, while some even travel intrastate for us to replace or remove their implants. Most women who initially get breast implant surgery are often happy with their results, but revision surgery may be needed for reasons that range from wanting to change the size of the implants to correcting a complication. At Synergy Plastic Surgery, our highly trained plastic surgeons have the specialized expertise necessary to successfully perform revision procedures!
At Synergy Plastic Surgery, you can trust our team of 6 plastic surgeons to deliver the care you deserve, the safety you rely on, and the results you’ve been dreaming of.
If you are considering a breast augmentation revision, or are unsure, schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons today!
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