Breast Implant Revision - How to Know if You Need it

Breast implants are placed in the body to give a patient a look to the breasts that is bigger in size and shape than their natural breasts. If there are no complications experienced with the breast implants, patients can expect them to remain in the body for anywhere from ten to twenty years. Having said that, there are several reasons why you might need to have them replaced sooner than that projected time period. Let’s examine some of the reasons you could want to have breast implant revision surgery.

Common Reasons for Breast Implant Revision Surgery

One of the most popular reasons why breast implant revision is desired is the fact that you might not be happy with the results of the procedure. You might not enjoy the amount of augmentation you gained from the implants to the point that you wish they were smaller or bigger in size. If you want to make a change in the size of the implants, many doctors recommend waiting about twelve months after the first surgery before making a change. This time period gives the body the chance to fully heal, and the breast implants will be able to settle into their final position in the body so you can see how they look once they are in place.

There are times when the breast implants can cause a good deal of discomfort to the body for a number of reasons including poor placement of the implants, capsular contracture, and pinched nerves. Even if there is not a medical reason for the pain, the implants might simply be uncomfortable because of their size. Schedule an appointment with the plastic surgeon who placed the breast implants in order to address the issue.

Over time, the breast implants will settle into a bit of a different position, but they should not move to a drastically different location on the wall of the chest. If this happens, it is known as breast implant displacement and there are multiple reasons why this can occur. Breast implants can move positions if the pocket where the implant is placed is too large (lateral displacement). Plus, an implant pocket that is overly large can cause the breast implant to rotate and this can result in a look to the breast that is unnatural and heavy at the top.

As the breast implants age, the implant shell can get weaker and result in a rupture of the breast implant. The rupturing of the breast implant can also happen if there is an accident that causes the implant shell to experience a sudden and intense amount of physical pressure. If a saline breast implant ruptures, there will be an almost immediate deflation of the impacted breast. There is no need to worry if saline breast implants rupture as the saline solution is easily absorbed by the body. If the implant that ruptures is a silicone breast implant, this cannot be diagnosed without having an MRI or ultrasound as the gel in the silicone implant tends to leak slowly into the body.

The breast implants can also change shape if the implants rupture, shift, or become displaced in some other fashion. It should be noted that changes in the shape of breast implants normally happen to one breast or the other but there are times when both of them can change their shape. However, the changes might be asymmetrical which means the two implants do not change in the same shape or manner which can make finding clothing that fits properly somewhat of a challenge.

It is normal for scar tissue to form during the healing process of breast implant surgery. This is usually nothing to worry about as the capsule of scar tissue that forms after the surgery can help to support the breast implant and keep it from moving out of place. There are some cases where your body can mistake the breast implant for a foreign object that is located in the body, so it produces an excessive amount of scar tissue to isolate what it perceives to be the foreign object. This is known as capsular contracture and it is an overproduction of hard tissue that is also dense in nature. This hard tissue surrounds the breast implant, and the condition can range from normal to severe. If the condition is considered to be severe in nature, it can cause the breasts to have a look that is overly round and misshaped as well as give them a feel that is not natural. If the capsular contracture issue reaches this level, you will likely need breast implant revision surgery.

If you are unsure what is causing any type of issue you are having with your breast implants, schedule an appointment with your doctor to have them examined. The doctor will examine the impacted part of the body and listen to your concerns in order to make an effective and successful treatment plan for your breast implants.

- MA