Breast Revision
Breast Revision San Diego
Plastic surgery is not an exact science, and sometimes patients will be unhappy with the results of their surgery, whether it be a cosmetic procedure or a reconstructive one. These patients often require revision surgery to improve the result and help achieve a more satisfactory breast appearance. Although the original plastic surgeon is often the best person to perform this breast revision, Dr. Gupta understands that many patients do not wish to return to their original plastic surgeon and prefer to seek consultation with a different surgeon. Dr. Gupta therefore offers breast revision surgery as a significant portion of his plastic surgery San Diego practice, to help patients achieve the outstanding results they expect and deserve.
Dr. Gupta does not believe in wasting your valuable time by bad-mouthing your original plastic surgeon during your consultation. That is not the way he was taught to practice medicine. He will instead carefully evaluate the results of your previous surgery to identify all areas to be improved during the revision procedure. He will then discuss all options with you in detail and finally formulate a plan of reconstruction to correct your unsatisfactory result and achieve the breasts you initially desired.
Any breast revision surgery is usually more complex than the original surgery that was performed because of the additional scar tissue and tissue that may have been incorrectly reshaped or changed. Revision surgery therefore requires a very experienced surgeon who can accurately determine the deformities to correct and the steps necessary to fix them to achieve the patient’s desired result. Dr. Gupta has trained extensively in breast surgery and in breast revision surgery and has many years of experience performing these complex procedures. If you are unhappy or unsatisfied with your surgical result, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gupta to see if you are a candidate for revision surgery.
Breast Revision FAQs
Who is a good candidate for breast revision surgery?
There are many reasons women come to experienced San Diego plastic surgeon Abhay Gupta, M.D., F.A.C.S. for breast revision surgery. Sometimes it’s a matter of preference: a patient simply does not like the look or feel of implants, or the goals she was hoping to achieve were not met. Other times the reasons are obvious and unfortunate. The initial surgery may have gone wrong, or there were side effects that were not sufficiently anticipated by the surgeon. These situations include:
- Capsular contracture, which develops when scar tissue forms around an implant. With this condition, patients feel pain and notice a hardening of breast tissue. This type of scarring can also cause an implant to rupture.
- Symmastia, in which migration of the implants or improper positioning makes it look like the breasts are joined in the middle of the chest.
- Breasts that look asymmetrical. This may have been caused by implant malposition, and was immediately obvious after surgery. It can also be the result of implants that were properly placed but have moved from their original location.
- Implants whose outlines are clearly visible or have developed a “rippling” appearance.
- Implants that have ruptured.
I have decided I prefer a different implant size. Will this type of revision be complicated?
The surgery will be more complex than the original placement, as scar tissue forms after most surgical procedures. If you choose smaller implants, the area surrounding the new implant will need to be tightened, and skin may need to be lifted. An increase in breast size will require the surgical creation of a larger pocket to accommodate the bigger implant. You may also choose to try a different type of implant. Some women decide that saline implants feel less natural than they expected, and opt for surgery to swap saline for a silicone gel variety. Other women may have health or safety concerns about silicone gel implants, and choose saline for their breast revision procedure.
Breast revision is also appropriate for women who decide that implants did not meet their aesthetic expectations, or felt less natural than they hoped. In a few cases, patients have health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, that may be aggravated by the presence of implants. When implants are removed, the pocket that held the implant must be refilled with your natural tissue to restore an aesthetically pleasing profile. This involves a procedure that is similar to breast lift. When large implants are removed, the skin may have a stretched look; in addition, the breasts may appear to sag or have a deflated appearance. Dr. Gupta is skilled in reshaping and lifting your breast tissue to ensure your look is as natural as before your initial surgery.
What is recovery like?
Breast revision is an outpatient procedure, and you will return home the same day wearing a surgical bra to provide firm support as your tender breasts heal. Your recovery will be very similar to that of your initial surgery. You will again experience soreness and swelling, and will need to limit activities for several days. It will actually take several months for the swelling to disappear. If your revision involved the removal of scar tissue, such as with capsular contracture, you may feel some discomfort, which will be managed with prescribed medication.
You may also need tubes to drain blood or other fluids that may pool at the site of incisions. After a week, the tubes will be removed and you will wear a less restrictive support bra. Although you will probably feel well enough to return to work or school at this point, you will need to avoid any physical activity that can put stress on your chest muscles, and should continue to sleep on your back.
For more information about breast revision options, please contact Gupta Plastic Surgery today.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Dr. Abhay Gupta is a renowned breast surgeon who has helped many revision surgery patients finally achieve their ideal look. If you have been considering breast enhancement, schedule your consultation by calling (858) 408-6100.
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