Breast revision is performed after an unsatisfactory augmentation procedure. It is also done to reshape or re-lift breasts that had been augmented years before. Revisionary breast surgery can be very complicated. Multiple factors need to be considered when planning and performing a breast revision to achieve a safe and successful result. At David Shifrin MD, we have the training and experience to help you achieve your goals. We strive to deliver the best breast revisions Chicago has to offer.
In general, a breast revision is any second procedure on the breast. It could involve fixing problems caused by a previous breast surgery or fixing changes that have happened over time or because of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
A breast revision may involve removing or replacing the breast implant replacing the breast implant, removing excess scar tissue (capsulectomy), pocket exchange, or breast lift (mastopexy). Breast implants may fail (deflate or break), and the patient may need one or more additional procedures. Since a breast revision is harder than a first-time breast augmentation, it is very important to find a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Shifrin, who has extensive experience and specializes in this area.
Women choose to undergo breast revision surgery for a variety of reasons. Most commonly:
If you are unhappy with previous breast surgery or have had a change in your prior results over time, Dr. Shifrin has the skills and experience to correct your appearance and provide you with the results you are searching for.
Your breast revision can take up to three hours, depending on the intricacies of your individual situation. Most of the time, this outpatient procedure is done with general anesthesia, which means you'll be completely asleep.
However, a breast revision can also be done with local anesthesia and IV sedation if Dr. Shifrin recommends it. Most likely, Dr. Shifrin will make the cuts in the same places as your prior breast implants. You’ll have a bandage over the cuts and a compression bra on when you awaken. After the anesthesia wears off, you’ll go home the same day with your caretaker to ensure you get home safely.
Good candidates for this procedure have already had breast surgery and want to improve the results because their shape, size, volume, or symmetry has changed. You should be healthy and in decent form before getting a breast revision. You should be as close as possible to your ideal weight, and it should stay the same. After breast surgery, it can take many months for the tissues to heal and for the final results to show. So, if you just had breast surgery and are unhappy with the results, Dr. Shifrin recommends waiting at least six months (possibly up to a year) before recommending corrective surgery. Not only does this give the final results time to show, but it also gives the scarring (especially internal scarring) time to mature and soften, making the tissue more flexible and easier to manage. You can always schedule a consultation to discuss your options and plan for the future.
You will need to rest for two or three days after a revision, but the full time it takes to heal depends on how complicated your surgery is and how much tissue is disrupted. Most Chicago breast revision patients believe that recovery from a second surgery to fix breast implants is much smoother than recovery from their first surgery.
You’ll notice preliminary results in three months after the bulk of the edema has receded. Full results can take up to a year to settle completely. It will take a minimum of three months for your new breasts to “drop and fluff,” which means that your natural breast tissue will have extended to fit the implant, and the muscles will have loosened.
If you would like to learn more about the Breast Revision procedure, click here to request a consultation with Dr. Shifrin today. Alternatively, you can call our office at (312) 502-6200 to schedule your appointment.
