Breast Revision Surgery Queensland
Breast revision surgery can improve the results of a previous breast implant surgery by correcting the surgery results or treating complications.
Are you dissatisfied with your current breast augmentation surgery (boob job) results? We hear far too often stories about breast augmentation surgery gone wrong. An alarmingly increasing number of women are choosing to go overseas for surgery or opt for cheap breast implants by inexperienced or cosmetic doctors. Equally, there are several women who are not satisfied with the result of their initial breast surgery.
What is breast correction surgery?
Breast revision surgery can repair the physical breast augmentation complications that may have arisen following an initial breast surgery procedure. In addition to this, breast revision surgery also encompasses breast implant replacement or breast implant removal. This varies slightly from breast reconstruction revision surgery which is more so aimed at the reconstruction of a breast lost to cancer or other conditions.
Am I A Suitable Candidate For Breast Implant Revision?
You may be a suitable candidate for a breast implant revision if you are displeased with the current shape, size or position of your breast implants. It can be very discouraging to have undergone breast surgery only to find you aren’t satisfied with the final results. Perhaps the original volume, size and shape you preferred have changed. Dr Doyle and the team at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery will take the time to understand your surgery circumstances and determine if breast correction surgery is the right surgery recommendation for you.
Do I Need Breast Correction Surgery?
There are several reasons women undergo breast correction surgery, such as:
- Dissatisfied with the size
- Implant rupture or replacement
- Not satisfied with the shape
- Deflation of implant
- Breasts have loose or excess skin
- Asymmetric breasts
- Capsular contracting or hardening
- You no longer want implants
Breast Implant Removal and Replacement
How often do you have to replace breast implants?
There is a lot of confusion and misconception surrounding how long breast implants can last. Although the implant manufacturers state implants will not last a lifetime, Dr Doyle’s experience and research show that some patients have seen their results beyond 10 years. Implants scientifically deflate over time, however, it is unnecessary to get breast implant replacements every 7 – 10 years, unless there is a specific issue or complication with the breast implants. In saying that some factors such as implant rupture, hardening and serious health complications can warrant the need for breast implant replacement.
Breast Implant Removal
It is often medically not recommended to remove your breast implants if there is no issue. After breast enhancement surgery, your breast tissue changes intrinsically mould to the shape of the breast implants.
However, for some women, complications from surgery, medical conditions and other personal reasons may warrant breast implant removal. Together, Dr Doyle will tailor a surgery plan to suit your unique case and preferred surgery outcome.
Breast Implants
To learn more about breast augmentation after implant removal, visit our breast augmentation page.
Considerations For Breast Revision Surgery
There are many factors and variables to consider before undergoing breast revision surgery.
Have you truly considered all of the risks?
The decision to undergo surgery is not one to be made lightly and often comes after serious research and consideration. As with all surgery, breast revision surgery involves risk. For this reason, it’s important to carefully consider your surgeon, their qualifications, and the standards of the clinic and hospital.
The discussion of potential risks and complications is one of the most important aspects of patient consultation. During your initial consultation, Dr Doyle will discuss the risks to ensure you can make a well-informed decision about surgery. He’ll take his time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions and discuss the protocols we have in place to minimise any risk.
You must also do thorough research outside of your consultation and if you wish to do so, we encourage you to seek a second opinion from another medical professional.
Do you have reasonable expectations?
While our surgery is performed with professional care to construct your preferred results, it is important to be in the right frame of mind and have a realistic expectation of the surgical outcomes.
Breast implant revision, also referred to as breast augmentation revision, is a surgical procedure involving the removal and/or replacement of breast implants to correct complications that may have occurred after breast augmentation or implant-based breast reconstruction surgery.
The options available to a patient having breast implant revisional surgery include the following:
- Removal of implants and no replacement
- Removal of implants and replacement of implants with correction of any concerns, then replacement with the same implants.
- Removal of implants and replacement with either smaller, same size or larger implants.
- Removal of implants and breast lift.
Removal of Breast Implants
For some patients, unrelated health problems can arise that require the removal of implants. An example is the diagnosis of breast cancer – although breast cancer is not linked to breast implants, treatment of the disease may be more effective after breast implant removal.
Implants may also require removal due to implant complications, such as rupture, severe capsular contracture (hardening of the implants) or shifting of the implant. Sometimes, discomfort associated with breast implants (mostly due to hardening or size) is also an indication for removal with or without replacement.
Lifestyle changes are another motivating factor behind breast implant revision, replacement, or removal. A woman may simply decide she no longer wants breast implants, or that the specific size she opted for no longer meets her surgery goals. Whatever the reason, any patient dissatisfied with their breast implants may be a suitable candidate for implant revision.
Should you remove your Implants?
Some women experience complications after breast augmentation or implant reconstruction, such as asymmetry, breast pain, implant deflation, and other side effects. Some women want their implants removed for breast screening purposes, as the presence of implants can decrease the effectiveness of mammograms. Others may have implant rupture or calcified silicone leak which can obscure breast cancer on mammography. These women often require not just the removal of the implants but also the excision of calcified lumps of leaked silicone.
Patients who are simply dissatisfied with the results of their breast augmentation may be candidates for a revision. The cause of dissatisfaction will need to be established (size, shape or position). Expectations will also need to be established and confirmed – whether it is realistic and whether removal and replacement can achieve the patients surgery goals.
Implant Removal
Implant revision surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Regardless of previous incisions used for implant insertion, implants are often removed via an inframammary incision to allow visibility and access.
The incision is made in the inconspicuous crease at the base of the breast to minimise visible scarring. The choice of incision varies based on the type of implant, degree of revision required, anatomy, and patient-surgeon preference.
If your implants are being removed due to capsular contracture, concurrent removal of the capsule (capsulectomy) with the implant is essential to prevent recurrence.
If your implants are being removed due to rupture and silicone leak, often breast tissue affected by the silicone or calcified silicone deposits may require removal to allow adequate breast screening on mammograms.
If no replacement or other concurrent surgery is being done, drains may be inserted to close the redundant space left by the absence of the implants. The incision is then sutured closed. Often the stretched breast tissue will become floppy and droopy once the implants are removed.
Breast Implant Removal & Replacement
Implants can be replaced after removal. The implant size and shape, as well as the pocket in which the implants are re-inserted, are determined by the reason for removal in the first place. If replacement is for rupture, often similar implants are replaced in the same pocket. However, if implants have been removed due to capsular contracture, the implants are often replaced in a different pocket (usually under the muscle) to prevent the recurrence of the contracture.
Sometimes, if implants are removed and replaced due to wrong positioning, the implants do not have to be changed, and can just be washed and re-inserted once the correct position and pocket have been created. If the breast implants are being removed to maximise mammography screening, replacement with new implants is not recommended, as the presence of the implants can decrease the efficacy of mammography.
Breast Implant Removal & Breast Lift
When implants have been removed, the breast tissue and skin are often stretched and can appear very relaxed. Generally, over time a large majority of the breast tissue will pivot downwards with the nipple also moving towards the bottom half of the breast and may pointi downwards overtime. A breast lift at the time of breast implant removal can change the shape and surgical outcome. Often, with shortening and reducing the amount stretched breast skin, the remaining breast tissue can then be tightened, increasing the volume of the breast mound. Breast lift surgery will also generally not affect any future breast imaging, as there is no breastimplant. The trade-off of a breast lift is the larger incisions (and thus scarring) involved as part of the breast lift.
Specific Risks of Implant Revision
The decision to have implant revision surgery is a personal decision and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your surgery goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.
The risks include:
- Unfavourable scarring
- Bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Poor healing of incisions
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation which may be temporary or permanent
- Capsular contracture, which is the formation of firm scar tissue around the implant
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Rippling of the skin over the implant
- Anaesthetic risks
- Seromas (fluid accumulation under the skin or around the implant)
- Blood clots
- Pain, which may persist
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications.
Generally, breast implants do not impair breast health. A careful review of scientific research conducted by independent groups such as the The National Academy of Medicine has found no proven link between breast implants and autoimmune or other systemic diseases. Pregnancy, weight loss and menopause may change the height, shape, volume and size of the breasts over time.
Most of the risks are uncommon, and some people with particular health problems or specific breast features may be at higher risk for specific complications. Dr Doyle will discuss this with you during your surgery consultation if any of these risks apply to you.
Although this surgery can be an practical procedure where the benefits outweigh the risks, like everything in the practice of medicine and surgery, it is not an exact science. The degree of surgical success can be altered by how each individual’s body responds to surgery and healing. Although surgery results are expected, there is no guarantee as everyone’s anatomy is unique. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve the preferred results with a single surgical procedure; revision surgery may be necessary.
Be sure to ask questions: It’s very important to ask questions about your surgery. It’s common to feel anxious, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated surgery results or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be nervous about discussing these feelings and any specific concerns with Dr Doyle or any of the Gold Coast Plastic Surgery team members.
Post-Operative Recovery
After the surgery, your breast is generally covered with gauze, combine and tape. You have a supportive bra put on you at the end of the procedure. The procedure is most commonly done as a day surgery procedure. A special compression bra should be worn for 4 – 6 weeks depending on the type of breast surgery. If implants were replaced, no underwire bra should be worn for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Although the breast skin and tissue are already accustomed to the presence of implants, recovering from implant revision is very similar to the recovery experienced after the initial breast implant surgery. Symptoms such as swelling, soreness, and stiffness are to be expected for the first 1 – 2 weeks.
Exercise and normal activity can resume at Dr Doyle’s directions and is dependent on the extent of your surgery. Over time, post-surgical swelling will decrease and incision lines will fade. The breasts will settle into their final shape at around 3 – 4 months.
Costs Associated With Implant Revision Surgery
Implant revision surgery may be covered by private health insurance when it is performed to treat implant complications such as migration, rupture, or capsular contracture. However, some policies may not cover cosmetic surgery of the breast in general or complications associated with previous cosmetic surgery. Each insurance policy varies greatly. Please carefully review your policy to determine coverage prior to surgery. If your insurer covers you for implant complications, it will often cover the removal and/or replacement. However, mastopexy (concurrent breast lift) is always considered cosmetic and generally not rebatable.
Some breast implants may be under a lifetime warranty. If you still have the records of your old implants, it may be worth contacting the implant company and asking about any possible reimbursement regarding the removal and replacement of the implants concerned.
You can access our list of pricing resources to find out more about the cost of breast lift surgery:
Breast Implant Revision Surgery Gold Coast
Dr Mark Doyle is a specialist plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over three decades of experience assisting patients achieve with their surgery goals. He understands the impact surgery can have on someone. As such, he will compassionately work with you to ensure you feel well-informed and comfortable during all stages of breast revision surgery.
A detailed and personalised consultation with Dr Mark Doyle will be the first step; listen to your medical history, your health assessed, and a detailed treatment plan will be tailored to meet your surgery goals.
Breast Implant Revision Surgery Gold Coast
For more information about breast revision surgery performed on the Gold Coast or to request a consultation, please contact us today.
About Dr Mark Doyle FRACS (Plas) – Queensland Plastic Surgeon
Servicing patients in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and New South Wales NSW – Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and more.
Dr Mark Doyle is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing breast, body, face and nose surgery. He has completed all required training and only carries out approved surgical practices. There are NO undertrained doctors or cosmetic doctors acting as surgeons at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery.
