There are many reasons why women choose to have breast augmentation surgery. The same is true as to why a woman opts to have her breast implants removed or replaced. Breast augmentation is still the most popular plastic surgery in the United States, but these medical devices do not last forever. Today's woman may choose to alter the size of her implants, or there may be unwanted changes in her breast shape, signaling that it’s time for a revision. Breast implant revision surgery involves the removal or replacement of either silicone or saline implants. When it’s time to choose new implants, turn to a skilled and highly trained plastic surgeon in order to achieve the look you desire.
Breast implant revision may be performed for medical or cosmetic reasons. Whatever the reason may be, the board-certified plastic surgeons at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery are leading experts in the Long Island, NY, area, and can guide you in planning your desired outcome. Dr. James Romanelli and Dr. John Layliev have extensive experience performing breast augmentation procedures, including breast implant revisions. Read below as they detail some of the most common signs and reasons women decide to get new implants and how Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery in Huntington, NY, can help.
Breast implants are not lifetime devices
The longer a woman has her implants, the more likely she will need to consider replacing them to avoid the risk of rare but possible issues. In some cases, women want to change the size of the implants they got 10 – 20 years ago. Some Long Island-area women may opt for smaller or larger implants after they have had time to adjust to their look.
Signs it may be time for a breast implant revision
Here are some common signs and symptoms that Long Island-area women may notice in their breast implants. The plastic surgeons at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery can fix these conditions with a surgical breast implant revision:
Bottoming out. This condition occurs when one or both breasts experience a significant drop on the chest. The result is breasts that look too low, and nipples that look too high. Often, this is the result of a placement issue during the original surgical procedure. To amend this condition, a different implant placement method or tissue tightening may be employed. Sometimes, tissue grafting is necessary along with a surgically created pocket that holds the new implant.
Capsular contracture. This is the immune system’s response to foreign materials in the body. It’s also known as scar tissue, which occurs when the soft tissue surrounding the implant becomes thick and hard. Most augmentations do create some internal scarring, but most of the time, it is not an issue. When the hardening tissue alters the implant placement, it can lead to undesirable changes in breast shape. To fix this issue, tissue is removed to clear away scarring.
Implant rupture. Instances of this are infrequent, but breast implant ruptures are possible. When a saline implant ruptures, the implant deflates and it is noticeable. If a silicone implant ruptures, it is only able to be detected on an MRI. When a rupture occurs, a second surgery will be necessary to correct the issue.
Asymmetry. In this case, the implants look unbalanced. This could be the result of an incorrectly sized initial implant, a lack of tissue, or another condition that would cause asymmetry. An assessment and diagnosis are necessary to determine the cause of the asymmetry, followed by revision surgery and a new set of breast implants placed to achieve a well-balanced look.
Symmastia. This condition occurs when breast implants are placed too close to each other, often due to the incorrect width, shape, or size of the implants. The two pockets of tissue that hold the implants merge, resulting in a singular pocket of breast tissue without any cleavage. Breast revision surgery fixes this look by utilizing an implant that fits within your body's framework.
Implant rippling. With implant rippling, wrinkles and ripples are visible under the skin. This typically forms near the edges of the implant. Rippling happens most often on very slender women. Many times, this issue can be amended by using a silicone breast implant, changing the implant pocket, or with fat grafting.
Breast size. Sometimes breast revision surgery is as simple as changing to different size implants. During the initial breast implant procedure, the implants may have been too large or too small. Different implants can be swapped with the originals to achieve the desired aesthetic goal.
Schedule your consultation with Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery
Are you considering breast revision surgery because you are unhappy with certain aspects of your implants? If so, finding a board-certified plastic surgeon like the ones at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery in Huntington, NY, is essential. Their patient-first approach and extensive experience enable Dr. James Romanelli and Dr. John Layliev to astutely listen to your needs and determine the best option so you can enjoy your new look. If you are considering breast revision surgery, call or schedule a consultation with Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery today.