BREAST REVISION – FLEMING ISLAND, FL*

Every year, many women in the Fleming Island area make the decision to have breast augmentation surgery with implants. Commonly, women are thrilled with their augmentation results. Sometimes later patients may decide to have the implants removed or replaced. At Fleming Island Plastic Surgery, Dr. William Wallace performs breast revision surgery to correct, remove or restore an existing implant that is causing issues such as rupture or leaking, or is no longer cosmetically wanted or desirable. Since silicone implants are a manmade product, over time, the implants may need to be refreshed, especially in women who have had them in place for more than a decade. Dr. Wallace is readily available to assist you in your breast revision, no matter the reason.

There are various circumstances as to why a woman may decide to undergo breast revision surgery. The most common reasons are listed below.

 RUPTURED IMPLANT

If a saline implant ruptures, the implant device will deflate due to the leakage of saline. This will result in an obvious deflating of the breasts. Silicone implants will not deflate visibly, however a break in the shell may still occur. The only true way to detect a shell break is through an MRI, which is why routine check-ups are recommended throughout the years.

 BREAST RIPPLING

Breast rippling and/or wrinkling can occur along the side of the breast, or underneath it. This occurs within saline implants resulting in an unnatural appearance under the skin. This is most common in women who are extremely thin.

 DOUBLE BUBBLE IMPLANTS

“Double bubble” is a rare complication with women who have breast implants. This occurs when the implant drops down behind the natural breast crease, or it has risen and now over-drapes (double folds) the breast. When this occurs, an unnatural indention will result in a “double” breast appearance. This is usually caused by improper breast placement from the original surgery, or severe capsular contracture, which shifts the implant from its position.

 BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL

Some women may decide later in life they no longer wish to have breast implants in place. Breast implant removal is a procedure that removes the implants and tightens the skin around the breasts to create a natural look.

 BREAST SIZE

Some women will be unhappy with their breast size following breast augmentation surgery. They may desire a secondary surgery to replace the implant with one of a different size, texture or shape. Some women may want to go from saline to silicone, or vice versa to achieve the results they desire.

 CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE

Scar tissue that has formed around the implant may create a capsular contracture. When this occurs, excessive tightening of the capsule will result in a hard feel of the breast. Sometimes, in order to correct this, a capsulectomy must occur. This is the removal of scar tissue from around the implant. In general, silicone implants have a higher incidence of capsular contracture (approximately 10-15% chances) than saline implants (5% chance).

 IMPLANT BOTTOMING OUT

This can occur post-surgery when an implant shifts or moves from its original location. This can also occur with aging, gravity, trauma to the chest area, or with excessive scarring.

DIFFERENCE IN EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM FIRST SURGERY

Some women are not good candidates for breast augmentation surgery. Instead, they should first have a breast lift. Women who have sagging breasts and undergo breast augmentation surgery alone will not have strong results. The breast will continue to sag further due to the increase weight of the implant.