Breast revision surgery is one of those octopus procedures as it encompasses a number of different options. It can be confusing for many patients, especially with social media. You may think you want one thing when you actually need another. This is why it is so important to schedule an in-person consultation. As a breast surgery expert, I have a deep understanding of the ins and outs of every procedure. Two of the most common revision breast surgery patients that I see in my Long Island office are women who want to exchange their current breast implants for a different size and those who want to remove their implants altogether. So, implant exchange or implant removal — which is right for you?
Reasons for Breast Implant Exchange
A breast implant exchange is exactly as it sounds — you are taking out your current implants and replacing them with a new pair. This may be due to a complication such as a rupture or to the fact that your implants have simply aged. Though breast implants can last for a decade or longer, they are not a lifetime device.
However, most patients who come in to see me to discuss a breast implant exchange do so due to a changing aesthetic. If you got a breast augmentation in your 20’s, and now you are in your 40’s, your implants may no longer fit your current “look”. While a few patients want to go bigger, most decide to go smaller. Your implants may also no longer actually fit your body. If you’ve gained weight due to:
- Age
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
You may no longer need as big of an implant. We can downsize your current implants or, if you have enough native breast tissue, remove them all together.
Breast Implant Explantation
There are a number of reasons why you might choose to remove your implants altogether. As mentioned, if you have gained some weight, you may no longer need an implant. Other reasons include:
- Implant Rupture
- Capsular Contracture
- Breast Implant Illness (BII)
The latter is a real set of issues that may be related to a woman’s breast implants. There is still more unknown than known with BII, but it seems that some patients can not tolerate a foreign device in the body. I take my patient’s complaints seriously. And if someone feels that their implants are making them sick, I will take them out.
An explantation procedure is rarely just as simple as removing your breast implants. Typically, I need to combine it with a breast lift and, oftentimes, fat grafting to the breast in order to deliver an excellent result. The skin and tissues on your breast have stretched over the years to accommodate the volume of the implant. If we don’t excise the excess skin and lift the tissues back to their proper place, you are probably not going to be happy with your results. Fat grafting to the breast works synergistically with a breast lift, allowing me to add volume where needed and sculpt your breasts into their new, ideal form.
To find out more about breast revision surgery, implant explantation, or any surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Mark Epstein in Hauppauge, Long Island, contact us today or call 631-689-1100 to schedule a consultation.
