When Should I Have Breast Implant Revision?
Breast implants do not last forever; most last for about ten years, and over time may need revision. There are many different conditions that can affect the look and feel of your breast implants. These conditions include ruptured implants, hardened implants, or implants that have moved out of place. The surgeons at our Missoula plastic surgery practice, North West Plastic Surgery Associates, offer experience in breast implant revision. If you're still unsure if you need breast implant revision, continue reading to see what types of conditions merit this type of plastic surgery.
Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture is when the tissue around a breast implant hardens. Capsular contracture stems from the immune system responding to foreign materials within the body. It can be very painful and cause the breast to become misshapen and asymmetrical. Capsular contracture can only be fixed with surgical revision.
Ruptured or Deflated Implant
Saline and silicone breast implants can rupture, or deflate. With saline implants, a ruptured implant will quickly deflate, resulting in asymmetry, with one breast smaller than the other. With silicone breast implants, the rupture is often unnoticeable and may cause no symptoms; for this reason, women with silicone breast implants should undergo routine tests to check for deflation.
When symptoms from a ruptured breast implant are present they may include:
- Change in the size of the breast
- Distortion of shape of the breast
- Pain, tingling, or burning in the breast
- Numbness, swelling, or redness in the breast
- Hardening of the breast tissue
- Hard knots around the implant or even in the armpit
Symmastia
Symmastia is a condition where the breasts “merge” together after breast augmentation. Symmastia may make it look like you have one breast instead of two separate breasts due to the implants meeting close together. Though this condition is rare, it results when too much tissue is removed from the cleavage area. Symmastia can only be repaired through surgery. If you suffer from symmastia, breast implant revision may be right for you.
Malplacement or Change in Shape
Whether you are unhappy with the original placement of your breast implants or they have shifted over time, breast implant revision can improve the appearance of your breasts. Revision may be necessary when the implants have shifted out of place. Implants do not last a lifetime, most only last around ten years. As implants age they change shape which means your breast will change shape too. Most women have breast augmentation to improve self-esteem or improve their appearance. If the way your implant sits in your breast makes you unhappy, then the implants aren't living up to expectations. This is a prime reason for breast implant revision.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Breast implant revision can restore the look, shape, and feel of your breasts. For our patients in Missoula, breast augmentation is just one of the many procedures we offer. Schedule a consultation with our team today and we will create a treatment plan to meet all of your plastic surgery needs.