Unhappy With Your Implants? Here's When to Consider a Breast Augmentation Revision

Every year, doctors perform hundreds of thousands of augmentation surgeries to help women feel more confident about their appearance. And while implant surgery is associated with a high rate of satisfaction, there may be times when an implant revision is desirable or even medically necessary.

Rishi Jindal, MD, has extensive experience in breast augmentation revision, helping women at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery get the results they want while maintaining optimal comfort and health. Here, learn when breast augmentation makes sense so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Your aesthetic goals have changed

Breast implants have a major bearing on how you look and — just as importantly — how you feel about how you look. Over time, it’s common for our personal aesthetic goals to change. Sometimes, the breasts that seemed perfect when you first had your surgery no longer suit the way you see yourself today.

Maybe you want more fullness as the effects of age or pregnancy take their toll on your natural breast volume. Maybe you no longer like the shape of your implants or the profile and contours they create. Or maybe you’d like to go up or down a size.

In these instances, breast augmentation revision can be a great option for helping you achieve a look that better aligns with your current vision while also helping you feel more confident and content.

Your implants are reaching the end of their lifespan

Breast implants can change your life outlook — but they’re not designed to last for your entire lifetime. Most implants have an average lifespan of about 10 - 20 years. 

As the implants age, the likelihood of implant damage, rupture, or other issues increases. That means even if you're not experiencing symptoms, it’s important to discuss the “health” of your implants with Dr. Jindal so he can help you decide if it’s time to consider revision surgery.

Deciding to replace your implants proactively provides you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re reducing the potential risk of complications later on. And of course, replacing older implants gives you a chance to make other changes or even choose a different type of implant altogether.

You're experiencing changes in how your breasts feel or look

You want your breasts to feel naturally soft and resilient to the touch, and implants are designed to feel just like your natural breasts. If your implants are starting to feel increasingly firm or if the skin around them is starting to look pulled, taut, or even puckered, it could be a sign of an underlying problem, like a shift in position or a problem called capsular contracture.

Capsular contracture happens when scar tissue surrounding the implant stiffens, and it can cause considerable discomfort — even outright pain — in addition to altering the way your breasts feel and look. 

Age-related changes in the tissue surrounding and supporting your breasts can cause your implants to feel different, too, and so can a slow leak in the implant’s contents. If you're having any of these changes, it’s important to schedule a visit right away so we can evaluate your implants and decide what steps to take next.

Your implants are damaged or you're concerned about a rupture

Breast implants may feel soft and supple, but they’re designed to withstand the rigors of everyday activities. That said, they can be damaged, especially in accidents involving impacts to the chest area.

If an implant ruptures, it may cause noticeable changes in the size or shape of your breast or noticeable changes in symmetry between your breasts. But other times, the signs can be a lot more subtle. 

Breast augmentation revision can replace damaged implants and restore the appearance of your breasts, and it’s also an opportunity to make other changes in size or shape, for instance. In any case, if you have an accident involving an impact to your chest or if you have any other issues that make you suspect an implant is leaking or has ruptured, it’s important to schedule an evaluation right away. 

Love your breasts

If you've noticed changes in your implants or you just aren't as happy with your results as you once were, breast augmentation could be the solution you’ve been looking for. To learn more about revision surgery and what it can and can’t do, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Jindal and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery in San Diego, California, today.