Do I need revision breast surgery?

There will be circumstances when a patient may consider undergoing revision breast surgery sooner than expected. Though breast surgery is common in the US, some women may feel dissatisfied with the results they’ve ended up with. Perhaps they have had some type of complication such as leakage, or maybe they are unhappy with the size or placement of their implants.  Others may have seen their results change due to natural body changes or pregnancy. All these reasons, and more are why many women seek revision breast surgery. There are varying reasons why a patient considers revision breast surgery. If you’re asking yourself the same question, you came at the right place. Below are the points for consideration if you’re thinking of having revision breast surgery:

Are you feeling pain?

• Pain after the surgery is natural. It usually takes months for the incisions to fully heal. However, if you’re feeling strange discomfort, ache or soreness months or years after your surgery, you may need another breast procedure.

• Capsular contracture (CC) is a rare condition where the scar tissue around the implant pocket builds a ‘wall’. This may lead to uncomfortable, hardened breasts that may cause pain. Most of the time CC requires removal of the implants. You can avoid CC by listening to Dr. Mussat and her professional recommendations during your consultation. Capsular contracture usually happens when the implants are too big for your existing breast tissue, thus listening to your doctor’s advice will help you avoid unwanted circumstances.

• If you’re experiencing abnormal bleeding or suspecting that your breasts got infected from your previous procedure, you must immediately schedule a consultation to check your situation. Cases like this mostly need prompt action to avoid further damage to the body.

Are you happy with your breasts?

• ‘Boob greed’ happens in patients, and it happens often. After several months, when the incisions finally heal, the patient starts loving her new breasts. It could lead her to wanting bigger implants, thinking it would look better. It’s totally fine as long as Dr. Mussat agrees it is appropriate for you.
• Some conservative patients may desire smaller implants when they realized the size they have might look too big for their preference. The person’s lifestyle is also a consideration for size reduction; patients with an active lifestyle may find they need a breast size reduction.
• Implant displacement or “bottoming out” occurs when breast implants end up sitting too low on the chest wall, and the nipples wind up positioned too high on the breast mound. At any time after surgery, a patient’s implants can move upward, downward, left or right; causing the need for a revision to move them back into the right position.
• Breast asymmetry or uneven breasts can be a consideration for a revision breast surgery. Usually the patient notices this when the breasts fully heal from the previous procedure.
• Symmastia is a rare condition where the breasts appear joined in the middle. It could look unattractive; thus, a patient must undergo a revision breast surgery.
• Scarring or rippling of the skin underneath the skin’s surface may need a patient to undergo revision breast surgery

Did your body change?

• Unfortunately, there are no smart breast implants yet that adapt to the body as it experiences changes. Typically, as the woman age, after her pregnancy, or if she lost weight, there is a great chance that the breast implants will sag. The patient’s breasts may look less perky 10 years or so after her surgery. When this time comes, a revision breast surgery could be considered to resolve the sagginess of breasts.
• Women who had breast augmentation may develop difficulties in milk production. If you’re a mother who desires to breastfeed your child, you may need your breast size reduced or your implants completely removed.

Did the implant fail?

• Implant rupture occurs when the solution leaks through an unsealed or damaged valve, or through a break in the implant shell. Deflation or rupture is usually diagnosed by the patient herself, and it can occur immediately following breast augmentation or anytime thereafter, including many years. When this happens, the breast will go back to its preoperative size. Immediate help from Dr. Mussat must be sought when an implant rupture or deflation occurs. This issue is usually corrected by a revision breast surgery.

Learn More About Revision Breast Surgery, Schedule A Consultation With Dr. Mussat

Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Mussat to learn the best approach to resolve your concern. As one of the leading surgeons in Chicago, Dr. Mussat will be glad to help you achieve the breasts you desire. Schedule a private consultation here or reach out to her office at (312) 751-9000.