Even with experienced surgeons, several factors can make your breast implants deviate from the original appearance or expectations. These factors can be directly connected to the augmentation process, the condition of the implant, or changes in your breast tissue; This is where breast augmentation revision comes in.
What is breast implant revision?
Breast implant revision is a perfect option for customers who wish to, change the size of their implant, restore the original breast appearance, or address any form of deformity. The following are pointers that you might require breast augmentation revision.
- You would like to change the shape or size of your implant
- You are experiencing a loss of implant volume
- Tightening of Scar tissue around the breast region
- An X-ray reveals a shell leakage in the implant
- You experience weight loss or weight gain, and the breast tissue change as a result
- Shifting your implants from their original position
If you experience any of the things mentioned above, there are high chances you can get assistance from breast augmentation revision with a certified plastic surgeon.
Procedure for breast implant revision
During the first visit, the plastic surgeon examines your breasts to establish the current status of the implants; This might include X-rays to establish if any ruptures or leaks are responsible for disproportionate implants. Be prepared to discuss your experience and medical history with your former breast augmentation surgeon.
Moreover, you might require to explain why you wish to change your implant size, particularly if you want larger ones. Finally, you need to inform your surgeon if you would wish to become pregnant, or lose weight, as this might affect the breast augmentation revision outcome.
During the procedure for breast implant revision, your plastic surgeon place incisions depending on your desired changes. After the procedure, you will wear bandages on your chest for some days, followed by a sports bra. It is vital to take some days off for recovery, particularly if you are undergoing extensive surgery.
While implants come with a lifetime guarantee on the implant device, they do not last forever. Experts recommend that you change both saline breast implants and silicone breast implants every ten years. However, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and the natural aging process can affect the projection and size of your breasts, and implant revision may address these issues.
Why do you need to replace your breast implants?
As mentioned earlier, experts recommend that ladies replace breast implants after every ten years. This assertion is largely founded on a 2011 food and drug administration report on the safety of silicone implants. According to the report, the longer you have silicone implants, the higher chances of experiencing localized complications.
If you experience no issues with the implants, your plastic surgeon might advise you not to change them. The most modern silicone implants are the fifth generation, which is much sturdier than the earlier generations; this implies that the shell will not break down as easily, and are not likely to leak.
Nonetheless, it does not imply that breast implant replacements are not common. Breast implants are continuously improving; thus, today’s implants will be inferior in ten years.
The longevity of saline vs. silicone breast implants
Silicone breast implants have the same longevity as their saline counterparts, but there is a major distinction. When a silicone ruptures, it is considered a silent rupture as the gel is contained in the scar tissue capsule formed by the body around the implant. Thus, the rupture can only be detected through imaging, such as an MRI or ultrasound.
On the flip side, when a saline breast implant ruptures, the water is absorbed by the implant patient’s body, and there is a noticeable loss of chubbiness in the breast. The deflation rate of a saline implant is about one percent every year.
Implant replacement surgery
The procedure of breast implant replacement is similar to the original implant surgery. Changing your breast implant due to staying with them for a long period, wanting to switch from silicone to saline or vice versa, or worried about developing ALCL, is an easy procedure. However, you should note that there might be challenges that were not there during the initial breast augmentation.
Choice of implants
During consultations, your plastic surgeon will need to know your aesthetic goals and assist in determining the best shape, size, and type of breast implant for the replacement. Often, when implant patients opt to change their implants, they also consider changing the shape and size of the implant.
Patients who had larger implants when they were younger, and are older, find that the large implant is heavy and too busty. These clients tend to opt for smaller implants. However, patients replacing their breast implants due to deflation or after pregnancy prefer larger implants. Generally, younger and postpartum clients prefer medium or larger sizes, while older patients prefer the same or smaller replacement.
Recovery from a breast implant revision
While recovery is dependent on the specifics of the implant procedure and the patient, most women find the process of recovery less painful than their initial surgery. During the procedure, there is no creation of a new pocket as it was made in the initial implant. Thus, there is less pain after the surgery.
Conclusion
Breast implant replacement allows patients to improve the results of earlier implant surgeries. Moreover, the procedure enables clients to change the shape of their chest – and coupled with extra cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, breast lift, and abdominoplasty can maximize the results.
