Breast Revision

Breast revision is a procedure to surgically address contour irregularities or aesthetic concerns associated with a patient’s original breast augmentation. Beautiful, perky, symmetrical breasts are an aesthetic dream many patients share, but sometimes they are unhappy with their original procedure’s size or quality. Plastic surgeons perform over 300,000 breast augmentations yearly, making it one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. Unfortunately, breast augmentation revision rates following the original surgery remain as high as 36%. ^[1] The reason for revision might include implant rupture, size change, substandard results from the original surgery, or complete removal of the patient’s implants. Even when patients are happy with their original augmentation, old implants need to be replaced with time. Successful secondary surgery outcomes require knowing how to best treat the implant, the capsule, and the patient’s soft tissue, which will have varying degrees of scarring and possible capsular contracture. 

When it comes to corrective breast procedures, Dr. Josh Korman is the Bay Area surgeon who delivers. Patients unhappy with their original breast augmentation often seek Dr. Korman’s expert surgical revision techniques. Patients can choose from one of his four convenient locations, including San Francisco, San Jose, Mountain View, and Carmel, CA, also serving the communities of Palo Alto and Monterey. Dr. Korman is a top breast enhancement surgeon who has helped thousands of women love their bodies again and feel the confidence breast revision can inspire. Contact one of his offices today to request a consultation to find out how breast revision can help you. Call our Mountain View office at (650) 254-1200; our Carmel office at (831) 656-9331; or our San Jose office at (408) 831-6229. Patients can also fill out this form to receive a call from our dedicated and helpful staff.

Follow our blog for more information about the procedures Dr. Korman offers his patients. 

About Breast Revision

Breast implant surgery, sometimes called breast implant removal and replacement surgery is a secondary procedure designed for women who have already had primary breast augmentation surgery. As a general rule, breast augmentation patients with implants may need breast revision surgery after ten years. Additionally, breast revision surgery can:

Capsular contracture is the most common reason patients seek revision surgery. ^[1] 

Breast revision surgery aims to give women proportional, symmetrical, and beautiful breasts. As one of the foremost doctors in the greater Bay Area, Dr. Korman is committed to providing women with stunning results they will be able to enjoy for years to come.

Breast revision surgery is a highly customized procedure built around the patient’s needs and goals. Performing a secondary procedure will help to ensure that the patient is satisfied with the appearance of their post-operative breasts. Dr. Korman understands that with secondary surgery, there may be a certain level of anxiety, especially if complications stem from the first. He considers these things when structuring his consultation so patients will understand what revision surgery can and cannot do for their specific case.

Ideal Candidates for Breast Revision

Patients unhappy with the outcome of their primary breast revision surgery may be good candidates for breast revision surgery with Dr. Korman. Patients may also be experiencing complications due to their breast implants, such as capsular contracture or rupture. As a result, the patient may wish to replace their implants with new implants, or they may want to remove their implants altogether. 

Before undergoing surgery, patients should be in good health; this means that they should be at a stable and healthy weight. Patients should also not smoke or be willing to quit for a certain period. 

Finally, patients should have realistic expectations about their surgical results. No cosmetic surgery will guarantee an automatic rise in self-confidence, although most of the time, patients experience increased confidence and body image.

To find out more about how Dr. Korman can address your surgical needs for revision augmentation, contact us to make an appointment. Call our Mountain View office at (650) 254-1200; our Carmel office at (831) 656-9331; or our San Jose office at (408) 831-6229. Additionally, patients can fill out this form to receive a return call.

Personal Consultation

The consultation is the basis for the breast revision process. It is both about Dr. Korman getting to know the patient and the patient getting to know Dr. Korman; communication is paramount. During the consultation, Dr. Korman will have the opportunity to evaluate the patient and lend his expertise. For the best possible consultation, Dr. Korman recommends that the patient come with any questions about breast revision, preparation, recovery, or additional procedures in which they may be interested.

First, Dr. Korman will ask questions about the patient’s primary breast augmentation procedure. The patient should bring pertinent medical records from their primary breast augmentation to the consultation. Then, Dr. Korman will ask the patient why they are considering breast revision and their goals for the outcome of surgery. Finally, he will inform the patient more about the breast revision process. 

After performing a physical examination and analyzing his findings, Dr. Korman will use his expertise to recommend what revision techniques he would utilize and whether or not the patient’s goals can reasonably be achieved. The consultation’s goal is to ensure that the patient feels fully informed and confident in deciding to have a breast revision.

Preparation

There are several preparatory requirements breast revision patients must follow to help ensure optimal results.

Procedure

Generally, breast revision surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning the patient will go home the same day as the procedure. Also, the procedure will likely be performed under general anesthesia. However, depending on the exact complications from the primary surgery, Dr. Korman may make other suggestions.

Dr. Korman employs many different techniques to meet the specifics of each patient’s breast revision case. Depending on the incision utilized in the primary surgery, Dr. Korman will try to use these exact incision locations for the revision. Any additional procedures that the patient may require will be discussed in advance.

Capsular Contracture

If the patient is experiencing capsular contracture, Dr. Korman will remove the hardened capsule, ensuring that the breast pocket is in ideal condition before inserting a new implant. Capsular contracture is caused by an excessive fibrotic reaction to the implant, so the hardened tissue is carefully removed. ^[2]

Breast Lift

If the patient wishes to remove their implants, Dr. Korman may need to perform a secondary procedure to remove the undesired or faulty implant. Often, this will mean that Dr. Korman needs to perform a breast lift since the implant has stretched out the surrounding skin and tissue.

Fat Transfer

In other cases, Dr. Korman may perform a breast augmentation fat transfer to add volume back to the breasts.

At the end of the procedure, Dr. Korman will close the incisions. The patient will then be wrapped, bandaged, and taken to a recovery room. Our knowledgeable staff will be around the patient to monitor them as they wake up from the anesthesia. Once it is okay for the patient to be released, they should have another responsible adult there to drive them home.

Dr. Korman’s Breast Revision Techniques

There are two basic techniques for breast revision surgery: removal and replacement. Removal involves extracting the implant entirely, while replacement involves changing the current implant for a new implant.

Implant Removal

There are various reasons women choose to augment their breasts, and the reasons for removing their implants are just as vast. The reasons may be aesthetic, medical, or even financial. Whatever the reason, Dr. Korman is one of the most respected doctors in the greater Bay Area and skilled at providing women with breast implant removal results that they love. In addition, breast implant removal is frequently performed in conjunction with a breast lift because the breasts will likely sag following implant removal due to the stretching of the skin.

If possible, Dr. Korman will remove the breast implant using the same incision used during the primary surgery to avoid further scarring. If necessary, he will remove scar tissue, or the capsule, from around the implant, called capsulectomy. Then, he will remove the implant. Saline implants may be deflated before extraction.

Breast fat transfer is an alternative option for women who want to enhance the size and shape of their breasts but without implants.

Implant Replacement

Breast implant replacement surgery is performed for patients who want or need to replace their implants. Patients choose replacement because they have experienced complications or because they desire a change in the appearance of their implants. The reason for the implant replacement will determine the procedure process. For example, patients who want smaller implants will likely need some excess skin resected during the procedure. In some cases, patients may also need a breast lift.

Recovery from Surgery

Recovery from breast revision surgery will be comparable to primary breast augmentation surgery. Patients can expect common symptoms in the first weeks following surgery, such as bruising, swelling, stiffness, and discomfort.

Patients will receive compression garments that will aid in recovery. These should be worn for the appropriate amount of time, as directed by Dr. Korman. In addition to recovery instructions, patients will have arm exercises to perform, similar to primary breast augmentation, to help speed along the healing process. Finally, patients will meet with the doctor for post-operative visits to ensure they are healing accordingly.

What is the Cost of Breast Revision in San Francisco?

As previously mentioned, breast revision surgery is a highly customizable procedure that will uniquely vary from patient to patient. Factors such as new implants, additional procedures, and anesthesia will all affect the cost. For these reasons, the patient must come for a consultation before receiving a price estimate. At the end of the appointment, once Dr. Korman has had the opportunity to design a customized surgical plan, he will be able to provide the patient with a price quote. Please remember that the patient may incur excess costs if they combine breast revision with additional cosmetic treatments.

To start the breast revision process, contact one of our three locations in San Jose, Mountain View, or Carmel to request a consultation with Dr. Korman. Patients in San Francisco and the surrounding areas can call Mountain View (650) 254-1200, Carmel (831) 656-9331, or San Jose (408) 831-6229. Fill out this form, and we will get back to you shortly.

References

1. Denney BD, Cohn AB, Bosworth JW, Kumbla PA. Revision Breast Augmentation. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2021;35(02):098-109. doi:10.1055/s-0041-1727272
2. Headon H, Kasem A, Mokbel K. Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation: An Update for Clinical Practice. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2015;42(5):532. doi:10.5999/aps.2015.42.5.532