On any given day, it’s not unusual to find someone having a breast implant procedure and many of those patients aren’t first-timers. Many are going back to alter the results of their first breast implants. These types of procedures are called breast implant revisions.
The human body undergoes constant change. Weight loss or gain, aging, childbirth, illness, or other medical conditions can all become factors that make people take a hard look at their first breast implants and consider revision surgery.
History of Breast Implants
Since the 1960s, people have been getting breast implants. These procedures have become one of the most popular plastic surgeries in the world. By the 1990s, the construction of implant devices had become advanced enough to mimic natural breasts in a way that no one could tell a procedure had been done.
Along with those advancements came further scrutiny from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), which ensured each generation of breast implants was safer than the last. Yet, many people, particularly women, still have additional operations after the initial breast augmentation.
Common Reasons for Breast Implant Revisions
Breast implant surgery has become a routine procedure, especially in the U.S. One 2021 study found that over 1,800,000 breast implant surgeries were done globally and 17 percent of those were performed in the U.S. (followed by Brazil at 13 percent).
With breast implants being so commonplace, it makes sense that breast implant revisions are also frequently done. There are many reasons that revision procedures are done. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Desire to alter the breast size of the initial implant. Some patients prefer to increase their breast size, while others may want to reduce it.
- Wish to change the type of implant initially received. Some patients reconsider and would prefer to exchange silicone, gel, or saline implants with another kind.
- Dissatisfaction with the results of the primary implant and a wish to have another surgery to completely change the entire aesthetic.
- Pain from the first surgery, particularly due to scar tissue or other localized complications.
- Issues like implant ruptures or implants that have “migrated” from the original placement during the first surgery.
- Your general body structure has changed (i.e. weight loss or gain) and want the breast area to be visually aligned with those changes.
Whatever the reason is that patients seek out breast implant revision surgery, it is undoubtedly a powerful option for anyone that is either unhappy with their first breast implant or is suffering in some way from the initial surgery.
Benefits of Getting Breast Implant Revision
When an initial breast implant is disappointing or compromised, breast implant revision surgery can provide a wonderful amount of relief to the patient. Besides that, there are other benefits to receiving a breast implant revision.
Relief From Physical Discomfort
When someone seeks out a breast implant revision due to pain, the need for the surgery becomes something other than visual appeal. It becomes a matter of medical necessity. There are instances when initial implants are too large and the patient eventually feels the residual pain. For some people, large breasts are a major source of upper back pain. So, reducing the size of the first implant is a corrective option.
Other pain sources could come from incision sites and resulting scar tissue (also known as capsule contracture). Everyone’s skin is different and some people accumulate more scar tissue than others. Issues such as implant ruptures causing leakage can also cause pain and discomfort. Breast implant revision surgery is an effective way to address these pain sources.
Being More Pleased With Physical Appearance
When people like the way they look, it carries over into how they feel about themselves, too. Poor body image is a pervasive issue for many people. Whether it comes from societal pressure or within, people with negative feelings about their bodies can have detrimental effects on mental health.
If an initial breast implant has done more harm than good for a person’s body image, breast implant revision surgery can reverse that effect. Sometimes it takes a second attempt to get it right.
Low Recovery Time
A breast implant revision is surgery. So, certain precautions must be taken to keep the patient healthy and happy. However, compared to other types of surgical procedures, breast implant revisions have relatively low healing periods. Many patients are able to heal within one to two weeks.
While the overall recovery time could be anywhere between four to six months, breast implant revision patients are generally able to get back to their normal routines in about 14 days.
If you have been thinking about getting a consultation for breast implant revision in Orange County, know that you’re not alone. CosmetiCare provides many patients with options on what to do about breast implant revision and other augmentation procedures. Put that thought into action and get in touch today.