What is a Breast Revision?
Primary (first-time) surgeries of the breast may need another surgery at a future time. Such revision breast surgeries tend to be more difficult and more complicated than the original breast surgery. This is because the circumstances of the first surgery, scarring from the original surgery, and changes since the original surgery all impact the new surgery. Each subsequent surgery compounds the surgical challenge for the operating surgeon. Higher levels of surgical skills and experience are needed to address difficulties encountered at breast revisions.
Some examples of conditions that require breast surgery revision are presented below:
- Issues with breast folds: Breast folds may shift after initial surgery. The fold may shift high or low, depending on various factors. Low folds need to be raised and high folds need to be lowered to keep the best look.
- Asymmetry of breasts: Breasts may develop asymmetry from post-surgery changes or from the original surgical technique. If these asymmetries are bothersome, they need to be corrected.
- Nipple malposition: Breast surgeries can result in nipples shifting high or shifting low. These will need repositioning.
- Implant-related changes: Shifting of implants, scarring and capsules around implants, implant ruptures, implant deflations, and pain related to implants may all necessitate revision of implants or revision of breasts.
- Exchange of implants: Implants may require an exchange for elective downsizing/ upsizing, or simply a change from saline to silicone, or vice versa. Ruptured implants will need to be removed.
- Need for change of original implant pocket: Need to change the implant pocket from behind the muscle to the front of the muscle or vice versa. It is done based on a specific situation related to the original surgery, and sometimes simply based on patient preference.
- Miscellaneous issues related to the personal preferences of patients: May also need revision of the original breast surgery to achieve the patient stated goals and their desired preferences. Such revisions may be needed for all kinds of breast surgeries (cosmetic, augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, breast reconstruction) and for any of the above reasons. Revision of breast surgeries is technically more difficult than the original surgery. It requires more skill on the part of the surgeon and carries a higher complication rate and is likely to cost more.


