Breast Implant Revision
Rejuvenate And Revitalize Your Previous Breast Augmentation Results.
Rejuvenate And Revitalize Your Previous Breast Augmentation Results…
Breast augmentation patients are almost always very happy with their results and enjoy them for many years. However, sometimes a patient needs a secondary procedure, either to correct a problem or simply to replace implants. Radiance Plastic Surgery’s own board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Laliberte with a special interest in complex breast surgeries, performs breast augmentation revision, also known as breast implant revision, in Canmore to replace breast implants or repair complications from breast augmentation surgery performed elsewhere.
Dr. Laliberte is a Royal College of Canada trained specialist in surgical procedures of the breast including Breast Implant Revision. His artistic and highly technical approach produces natural results tailored to enhance and complement your specific frame, goals and circumstances. At Radiance Plastic Surgery Dr. Laliberte performs over 200 breast procedures per year.
Breast Implant Revision in Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore and Banff helps many women refine body contours to achieve a proportional, comforting appearance and a more confident, youthful self-image.
BREAST IMPLANT REVISION AT RADIANCE PLASTIC SURGERY
Breast Implant Revision Benefits
RELIEF FROM PREVIOUS IMPLANT COMPLICATIONS
Although breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic procedure that is often performed with positive outcomes, any surgical procedure poses the risk of complications. In certain cases, breast implant revision may be required for health purposes, or to relieve physical discomfort.
CHANGING IMPLANT SIZE
After your initial breast augmentation surgery, you may realize you would like your implants to be slightly larger, and opt to have them replaced through revision surgery. Alternatively, women who feel that their breast enhancement provided overly dramatic results may wish to downsize.
IMPROVED COSMETIC APPEARANCE
Along with the physical problems caused by previous implant complications, the cosmetic appearance of the breasts may also be affected. Rejuvenate and restore your breasts shape and projection.
ENHANCED SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE
Breast implant revision, either by the removal or replacement of implants, can have immediate benefits for the cosmetic appearance of a woman’s breasts. In turn, resolving aesthetic flaws can have a positive effect on a patient’s self-esteem and confidence.
Breast Implant Revision at Radiance Plastic Surgery
What Is Breast Implant Revision?
The goal of breast implant revision surgery is to replace old breast implants with new implants. Often the goal is also to change or improve the appearance of the breasts while updating the implant material, which could include:
- A concurrent breast lift or reduction
- Reshaping the breast implant pocket to reposition the implant on the chest
- Either increasing or decreasing the size, shape or style of the breast implant
What Breast Implant Revision Surgery Can Achieve
The desire to have breast implant revision surgery can be because of any of the following reasons:
- Desire to change the size of the breasts
- Pain from capsular contracture
- Concern about rupture or migration of implant
- Change from saline to silicone or a different style of implant
Over time, breast implants can change shape or size, and the overlying breast tissue can also change, creating an appearance or feel to the breast that is less desirable than the original result. Also, many breast implants have a lifetime warranty on the actual implant device, but after ten years the costs associated with having surgery to replace the implants are no longer covered. Because of this, many women will elect to replace or update their breast implants at or around the 10-year time frame.
Breast implant revision surgery is not a standard or routine procedure and needs to be tailored specifically to the patient’s goals and desires. Therefore, this surgery should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon who is well-trained and experienced in all types of breast surgery and who will listen to the patient’s goals and desires and will develop a surgical plan specifically to address all of the issues at the time of surgery.
How Much Does Breast Implant Revision Cost?
Each of our patient’s cases is unique, however, the average cost of breast implant revision ranges from $9,500 and up, depending on the extent of the revision.
Breast Implant Revision – The Consultation
Am I A Good Candidate For Breast Implant Revision?
Breast implant revision surgery is intended for patients who have had a breast augmentation in the past and are now unhappy with their implants or concerned about the condition of their implants. This procedure can address those concerns by replacing the existing implants with new implants.
In general, you may be a good breast implant revision candidate if:
- You are unhappy with size, shape or appearance of your breast implants
- You are concerned about the integrity or condition of your implants
- You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
- You have realistic expectations
- You are a nonsmoker
What Can I Expect During A Breast Implant Revision Consultation?
During your breast implant revision consultation, be prepared to discuss:
- Your surgical goals
- Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
- Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
- Previous surgeries
Dr. Laliberte will also:
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Examine your existing breast implants
- Take photographs
- Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
- Discuss likely outcomes of breast implant revision surgery and any risks or potential complications
The success and safety of your breast implant revision procedure depend very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.
Gummy Bear Breast Implants
Here at Radiance Plastic Plastic Surgery, we primarily perform implantation with Gummy Bear Implants due to their overall benefits when compared with traditional implants. Gummy bear implants are firmer, hold their shape better, and feel more natural to the touch. They simulate the feel of a young woman’s breast. Both gummy bear and traditional silicone implants are softer to the touch than saline implants.
Gummy bear breast implants maintain their shape even when the implant shell is broken. The consistency of the silicone gel inside the implant is thicker than traditional silicone gel implants. Shaped gummy bear breast implants have more projection at the bottom and are tapered towards the top.
More information is available here – Natrelle® Gummy Implants
Breast Implant Revision – The Procedure
How Should I Prepare For Breast Implant Revision?
In preparing for breast implant revision surgery, you may be asked to:
- Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
- Get breast or implant imaging, such as a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
- Stop smoking
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
What Are The Steps Of A Breast Implant Revision Procedure?
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Dr. Laliberte will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
The type of incision used in breast implant revision surgery will vary depending upon the type of procedures that will be performed. The incision can include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
Inframammary incision – in the crease under the breast
Breast lift incision – either the vertical incision or Wise pattern incision
Peri-areolar incision – incision partway or all the way around an areola
Step 3 – Closing the incisions
Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes or clips close the skin incisions.
Breast Implant Revision – Results & Recovery
What Should I Expect During My Breast Implant Revision Recovery?
Following your breast implant revision, gauze dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions. Depending on the details of your surgery, you may or may not be placed in a support bra or other type of garment.
In some cases, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include:
- How to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery
- Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection
- Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
- When to follow up with Dr. Laliberte
What Results Should I Expect After Breast Implant Revision?
The final results of breast implant revision surgery will be initially obscured by swelling. It will take at least six weeks for the swelling to resolve and the breasts to feel softer and more natural. In some cases, it can take 6-12 months for the breasts to feel “normal.”
Healing time is different for everyone and sometimes it can take longer for the breasts to soften, for normal sensation to return, for scars to fade and for the patient to get used to the feel of having an implant. Please discuss realistic expectations with Dr. Laliberte regarding your healing.
Breast Implant Revision Frequently Asked Questions
If the breast feels hard, painful, has developed asymmetry, has become saggy, or if you are generally unhappy with the size, you may benefit from a breast revision.
It really depends on what the motive for the revision is. If the implants are ruptured, they should be changed out rather soon, same as if the breast is encapsulated and painful. Other more elective reasons can wait until it is convenient for the patient.
Most surgeons recommend breast implant replacement rather than breast implant removal. Implant removal surgery is more complicated than a replacement procedure, with heightened potential for bleeding and infection.
For some women, though, breast implant removal is the preferred option. Women who suffer pain and rheumatological symptoms show a marked health improvement when implants are removed completely, rather than replaced. In fact, women who suffer from autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, MS, and lupus may be especially sensitive to substances found in implants, such as silicone.
Yes, the size of the implants can be increased to fit your body better or to improve shape and projection. You can also downsize your implants, but in that case you may also need a breast lift to remove any redundant skin and prevent sagging breasts.
Breast implants are optional and elective. They should meet your expectations in shape and size, but also need to be proportional to your body habits and figure. The size is important, but the projection and shape are as important, and the implants need to fit your body. At Radiance Plastic Surgery, we have a full range of sizers and implant styles for you to compare and contrast against your current implants.
While many people are under the assumption that “bad” breast implants refer to implants that appear unnatural, the term more accurately describes breast augmentations that are aesthetically displeasing as a result of complications such as:
- Rippling
- Capsular contracture
- Implant displacement
These complications can be corrected with breast implant revision surgery, which involves removing or replacing the affected implants.
Recent Posts
Meet Dr. Michael C. Laliberte
MD, FRCSC
Canadian Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Laliberte, Radiance Plastic Surgery’s Royal College-certified plastic surgeon has quickly established himself among the finest Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery specialists throughout western Canada.
With extensive training and years of specialized experience, Dr. Laliberte has built an outstanding team of healthcare professionals and clinical staff to ensure an exceptional in-patient experience and seamless delivery of service and post-operative care.
Having operated alongside word-class surgeons throughout North and South America, Dr. Laliberte brings to the Canadian Rockies a practice that encompasses the breadth of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Michael Laliberte has extensively trained in Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive surgery. After completing undergraduate and medical school at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Laliberte specialized in Plastic Surgery at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Laliberte and the team at Radiance Plastic Surgery are best known in Alberta, and throughout Canada for exceptional surgical outcomes and compassionate care. Our goal is simple: to support you in achieving your cosmetic goals and restoring your confidence.
A Cosmetic Experience Designed To Help You Rejuvenate Your Confidence
The secret is out. We’ve built a state-of-the-art clinic and private surgical centre servicing patients from Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Edmonton, Red Deer, Airdrie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and across Canada.
You’ll find us in the Canmore Crossing Complex. We are excited to welcome you to our new clinic and private surgical centre.
“Location shouldn’t limit your choices when it comes to finding the best plastic surgeon for your needs”
Our Canadian Rockies plastic surgery practice has quickly established a strong reputation as one of the leading cosmetic and reconstructive surgery centres throughout Alberta, and Canada.
We encourage women and men considering plastic surgery to view our gallery of before-and-after photos and read patient-written reviews, so they can rest assured they will be in good hands at our practice.