If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your breast augmentation, revision surgery can help address your concerns. Whether you are experiencing issues with implant size, shape, placement, or complications, this breast surgery can improve your results.
To learn more about breast implant revision surgery with skilled plastic surgeon Dr. Ryan Frank in Calgary, AB, call today to schedule a consultation.
What Does Breast Implant Revision Surgery Involve?
During breast implant revision surgery, the incisions made during the initial surgery are often used to remove the implants and replace them with either larger or smaller ones. If larger implants are wanted, the pockets in the breasts that hold the implants are made larger. If smaller implants are wanted, the pockets are made smaller using sutures; a mastopexy (breast lift) may also be performed.
Reasons For Breast Implant Revision Surgery
After undergoing breast augmentation with implants, women who become pregnant or who lose significant amounts of weight may no longer be happy with how their breasts look. This can lead you to consider breast revision surgery. Other reasons for breast implant revision surgery include the following:
Unhappiness With the Size of Implants Chosen
Wanting a different breast implant size is the most common reason that a patient seeks breast implant revision surgery. We may advise you to wait up to one year after the initial procedure before undergoing a revision augmentation. You need to allow enough time for the swelling to subside and the implants to settle in order to see the true surgical outcome.
Breast Implants Are Leaking
Implants can leak because of age or defect, injury to the breast, or overfilling. Whatever the reason, a leaking implant should be replaced as soon as possible (even if this is before the implants have settled). The incisions made during the initial surgery are often used when replacing the implant.
You’ll easily be able to notice a leak to a saline implant; the implant deflates, and the saline is absorbed by your body.Â
Silicone implant leaks are trickier to spot because the silicone is designed to hold its shape. These leaks are often only discovered during routine mammograms.
Implants Are Causing Complications
There is always a risk of complications from a breast implant procedure. They include wrinkling and rippling of the implant (usually a saline implant); capsular contracture, in which scar tissue forms around the implant, hardening the breast and changing its look and feel; and symmastia, in which the implants drift together and meet in the middle of the chest.
Recovery From Breast Implant Revision
Recovery from breast implant revision surgery is typically similar to healing after your initial procedure. Most patients experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort during the first week, which can be managed with prescribed medications and proper care.
Strenuous activities, including heavy lifting, should be avoided for at least four to six weeks. Dr. Frank will provide specific instructions for caring for your incisions, wearing supportive garments, and gradually resuming daily activities.
Should I Visit My Original Breast Augmentation Surgeon to Perform My Revision?
It's not uncommon for patients to believe they must see the same surgeon who performed their breast augmentation should they decide to exchange or remove their implants. The truth is that the two surgeries require specific skill sets.Â
While you can return to your original surgeon for breast implant revision, it's extremely important to assess their level of training and experience in the performance of revision procedures. You want to know that your surgeon has the necessary techniques to address the issue or issues that you're facing, such as capsular contracture, symmastia, or other concerns.Â
You also want to feel confident that your surgeon is well-trained in the various types of breast revision that are available today. In the end, your safety and satisfaction are more important than the familiarity you have with a previous surgeon.
How Will My Breasts Look After Revision Surgery?
Our goal is the same as yours: to revise your breast implants without diminishing your natural beauty! Whether your revision involves increasing your breast implant size, decreasing it, changing the type of implants you have, or removing your implants altogether, Dr. Frank operates with your final results in mind.Â
Every decision we make considers how your new breast size and shape will complement your overall body style, personality, and quality of life.
How Soon Can I Exchange My Breast Implants?
After undergoing breast augmentation, your breasts may appear higher and larger than you had anticipated. They may feel firmer than you expected, as well. Sometimes, this transitional period can make you feel unsettled enough to start considering revision surgery.
Before consulting with your surgeon about revising your implants, it's important to allow your body to fully resolve your post-operative side effects. It takes at least 12 weeks for breast implants to begin to settle. Only after that point will you have a full understanding of your final surgical outcome. For this reason, most doctors recommend waiting at least six months before taking steps toward breast augmentation revision surgery.Â
If you have questions or concerns before that time, a consultation with Dr. Frank may help set your mind at ease while also providing you with the support and information you need to understand your options should you decide to move forward with a revision procedure.
Can I Have Multiple Breast Revision Surgeries?
It is generally considered safe and acceptable for a woman to have repeat breast surgeries. Depending on the age at which you first received your breast implants, you may require one or more revisions during your lifetime. The circumstances around your revision procedure may also contribute to your surgeon's recommendations for future surgeries.Â
To understand your options, risks, and benefits, it is important to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Frank, who has ample experience performing different types of breast revisions.
Can I Simply Remove the Implants in a Revision?
Yes, breast implant revision surgery can involve removing your implants without replacing them. This option is often chosen by women who no longer wish to have implants due to personal preferences, lifestyle changes, or complications.
When implants are removed, additional procedures such as a breast lift (mastopexy) may be recommended to address any sagging or changes in breast shape that can occur after implant removal.
Can I Get Fat Grafting Afterward?
Yes, fat grafting can be performed after implant removal or as part of a breast implant revision surgery. This technique uses your body’s own fat, harvested from areas such as the abdomen or thighs, to enhance breast shape and volume. Fat grafting is a natural alternative for women who want to maintain some fullness or contour without the use of implants.
Fat grafting can also be combined with a breast lift to achieve more comprehensive results, particularly if volume loss or sagging is a concern after implant removal.
Why Choose Dr. Ryan Frank for Your Breast Implant Revision?
Dr. Ryan C. Frank, MD, FRCS(C), is a plastic surgeon who is highly skilled in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. A Calgary native, Dr. Frank completed his medical degree and plastic surgery residency at the University of Calgary before pursuing a prestigious fellowship in pediatric and cosmetic surgery at the University of California, San Diego. His advanced training makes him uniquely qualified to handle the complexities of breast implant revision surgery.
Patients trust Dr. Frank for his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to patient safety. He has the expertise needed to address issues like capsular contracture, implant leakage, or asymmetry. You can feel confident in your decision to entrust your care to Dr. Frank, one of Calgary’s leading plastic surgeons.
Benefits of Breast Implant Revision
Breast implant revision surgery offers numerous benefits, including:
- Improved Appearance:Â Correct concerns such as implant asymmetry, rippling, or deflation, enhancing the overall symmetry and natural look of the breasts.
- Increased Comfort:Â Issues like capsular contracture or implant malposition can cause discomfort or pain. Revision surgery restores comfort, improving the overall feel of the implants.
- Personalized Adjustments:Â Update your implants to align with your current goals, whether transitioning to a different size or type or opting for removal altogether.
- Enhanced Confidence:Â Many patients experience improved self-esteem and body confidence following breast implant revision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preparation involves stopping certain medications, avoiding smoking, arranging for post-surgical care, and following any preoperative instructions from your surgeon, such as fasting before surgery.
Yes, breast implant revision can correct asymmetry by adjusting the size, placement, or type of implants or by combining the procedure with a breast lift for optimal results.
To minimize scarring, follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions, avoid sun exposure to incisions, and consider scar treatments such as silicone gels or sheets, as recommended.
Most patients can return to light work within one to two weeks, but strenuous activities, including exercise, should be avoided for four to six weeks or as your surgeon advises.
Many patients combine revision with procedures like breast lift, fat transfer, or body contouring for comprehensive results.
Depending on your goals and anatomy, you can choose saline or silicone implants, including options like gummy bear implants or textured implants.
Temporary changes in sensation are common, but most patients regain normal sensation within a few months. Permanent changes are rare but possible.
Yes, downsizing is possible, but additional procedures like a breast lift may be needed to address excess skin.
Modern implants typically last 10–15 years or longer, but regular monitoring is recommended.
Your surgeon will evaluate your concerns, learn more about your goals, review your medical history, and develop a treatment plan.
Insurance may cover revision for medical issues like rupture or capsular contracture but not for cosmetic reasons.
Yes, imaging like an MRI or ultrasound may be needed to assess the condition of your implants and surrounding tissues.
Significant weight changes can change the appearance of your breasts and may influence the need for revision.
Some patients with BII symptoms choose to have their implants removed or replaced, often with en bloc capsulectomy.
Contact Us at: (403) 245-1228
Unsatisfied with your breast implants? Call our office at (403) 245-1228 to schedule your breast augmentation revision in Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Chestermere, and Okotoks, AB, CA with Dr. Ryan Frank.
