Breast Revision The Woodlands

Replacing breast implants

Despite the overall record of success of breast augmentation, some women may require secondary surgery to resolve a complication or correct an aesthetic problem. Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sugene Kim offers breast revision surgery to patients in The Woodlands and greater Houston.

Dr. Kim is recognized as being among the finest aesthetic breast surgeons in the area. You can be confident that your revision surgery is in the hands of an acclaimed female plastic surgeon who understands the importance of achieving a beautiful and successful outcome. Depending upon the condition of your breasts, she may approach your revision with various surgical techniques.

Why choose Dr. Kim for your breast revision?

Dr. Kim is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who has completed a wealth of training specifically in the art of breast surgery. During your initial consultation, she listens to you attentively, asking relevant questions about your previous surgery as well as your long-term goals. Your satisfaction is paramount to Dr. Kim, and you will note the difference in her focus, compassion, and care during your very first visit with her.

Schedule Consultation

Who should consider a breast augmentation revision?

Breast implants don’t last forever. Over time these devices may lose their shape or become damaged. While this is not believed to be medically harmful, it can change the appearance of your breasts and necessitate revision (secondary) surgery. In other cases, patients may pursue revision surgery after breast augmentation if they have an aesthetic concern or are living with a complication such as:

A damaged breast implant: Breast implant may not last forever. Although rare, implants can rupture or deflate over time. Women with saline implants typically notice a change in the appearance of the affected breasts very soon after the damage occurs, as the implant visibly deflates. Women with silicone implants may experience a “silent” rupture, which means that although the implant is damaged, the rupture is not visible, as the silicone gel filling remains within the surgical “pocket” after the trauma or rupture. Although a rupture is not a medical emergency, most women are encouraged to treat this complication sooner rather than later.
Capsular contracture: This complication occurs when an augmented breast creates an excess of scar tissue around the implant, making the breasts hard, firm, or disfigured.
Asymmetry: Breasts may appear asymmetrical immediately after surgery or become asymmetrical later. Asymmetry typically happens when an implant is improperly placed during surgery or shifting occurs within the breast capsule after surgery.
Other visible deformities: For example, a complication known as “bottoming out” occurs when the implant slides too low and causes excessive volume in the bottom portion of the breast. Another cause for revisionary surgery is symmastia, a condition that occurs when the breast implants are positioned too close together across the midline of the chest, with no space in between.

In other situations, some women elect for revisionary surgery if they want to make changes after their initial breast augmentation. These situations can include:

Change of size: Sometimes women decide they want larger or smaller breast implants after their initial breast augmentation and choose to have revisionary surgery to achieve their desired look.
Change of implant type: Another common reason women choose to undergo revisionary surgery is to change implant type, from saline to silicone, for example.
Return to natural breast size: Some women choose to have the breast implants removed and their breasts restored to the size nature gave them.

Breast revision techniques

Breast revision surgery follows many of the same steps as primary breast augmentation, although the presence of scar tissue may cause the surgery to be more technically challenging. Dr. Kim performs the surgery while you are under general anesthesia.

During the revisionary procedure, she removes the old implants as well as the breast capsule and replaces them with the new implants you chose during your consultation. Depending on your situation, Dr. Kim may perform various techniques to correct your symptoms and create the results you want. Depending on the nature of your case, she may perform a breast lift at the same time as your revision.

Breast revision surgery recovery – what to expect?

Depending upon what was required surgically to correct the appearance of the breasts, the recovery time may vary. Implant replacement as a single procedure typically requires less recovery time than a surgery in which capsular contracture is resolved. As a general rule, expect about one to two weeks recovery time.

What is the cost of breast implant revision?

Breast implant revision surgery can cost $9,000 or more, depending on factors such as the type of implants, the extent of revision needed, and the surgeon's fees. Additional costs may include anesthesia, hospital fees, and post-operative care.

Gallery Explore

Where are the incisions placed to resolve capsular contracture?

If a “capsulectomy” must be performed, the incisions are usually placed in your existing scars, whether periareolar (around the areola unless the areolas are too small to use this technique) or inframammary (in the breast fold). You must avoid stretching, reaching, or any other physical motion that may pull on your incisions until they are fully healed.

As with the primary surgery, you can expect swelling and bruising and for the scars to fade over time. To learn more about breast revision at SGK Plastic Surgery, request a consultation using our online form or call our practice in The Woodlands today at 281.315.3188.