Dr John Flynn is seeing an increasing number of patients seeking to undergo breast revision surgery.

Breast implant revision or breast implant removal is becoming an increasing popular procedure. The increasing number of women who are choosing to go overseas to get a ‘cheaper’ breast augmentation contributes to this, along with women not being completely happy with the result of their initial breast surgery. This can result in complications with the breast implant where removal can be required or desired.

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What is Breast Implant Revision?

Breast implant revision surgery is the process of removing/replacing an existing breast implant to correct any complications that have occurred after breast augmentation or implant based reconstructive surgery. Breast implant revision can also be used to correct an unsatisfactory result of a previous breast augmentation. Breast revision surgery has the ability to repair both the physical and psychological issues that may arise when a patient is not completely satisfied with their initial breast surgery.

Am I a candidate for breast implant revision?

If you’re dissatisfied with the size, shape or position of your implants, then you are a candidate to undergo breast revision surgery. After undergoing a breast augmentation, it can be disheartening when you’re not satisfied with the result. Dr John Flynn at Cosmedic on the Gold Coast will take the time to completely understand your situation and determine the best way forward for you and your concerns.

Do I need breast revision surgery?

There can be many reasons as to why women choose to undergo breast revision surgery, such as:

  • Dissatisfied with shape
  • Unhappy with size
  • Asymmetric breasts
  • Deflation of implant
  • Breasts have sagged
  • No longer wanting implants
  • Capsular contracting or hardening
  • Implant rupture or replacement

What are the options?

Implant Removal

Implant revision is performed under general anaesthesia. The choice of incision varies for each patient, based on the type of implant, degree of revision required, your anatomy, and preference. Generally, we try to go through existing scars to avoid extra ones. We can repair the old scars at the same time if need be.

Removal & Replacement

Implants can be replaced upon removal. The reason for removal in the first place will determine the implant size and shape, as well as the pocket in which the implants are re-inserted. If the replacement is for a rupture, similar implants are often replaced in the same pocket. If implants have been removed due to capsular contracture, the implants may be placed in a different pocket to try to prevent the reoccurrence of the issue. To learn more about breast implant options, please click here.

Removal & Breast Lift

Upon the removal of breast implants, the skin and breast tissues are often stretched and can sometimes appear droopy. A breast lift along with the breast removal can significantly improve the shape and cosmetic outcome of the procedure. With tailoring the breast skin, the breast tissue can be tightened and shaped to re-create the volume and appearance of a normal breast mound. To find out more about breast lifts, please click here.

Risks of Implant Removal

As with any surgical procedure, breast implant removal carries some risks, these can include:

  • Unfavourable scarring
  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Anaesthesia risks
  • Blood clots
  • Pain
  • Implant leakage or rupture

To read more about surgical risks please ‘click here’.

Breast Implant Revision Surgery Gold Coast

Dr Flynn has practised on the Gold Coast for over 20 years. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and has a wide experience in Cosmetic Surgery including Facial Lifts, Breast Augmentation, Liposculpture and Laser Surgery. Dr John Flynn has decades of experience in helping patients to achieve the look they desire, working with you to ensure you’re well informed and comfortable throughout all stages of breast revision.

The first step is a consultation with Dr John Flynn, where your medical history will be discussed, your condition and concerns addressed, and a detailed treatment plan will be tailored to your goals.

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For more information, or to book a consultation with Dr John Flynn, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

A:

Breast implants do not cause Breast Cancer. This has been studied extensively. However, there is a newly described condition called
BIA- ALCL ( Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma). This is a type of cancer of the lymph system but not breast cancer. This rare condition is an important issue to know about since it does have an impact on whether you might choose to go ahead with breast implants. You can read pertinent information from TGA and the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery here.

A:

Not really. Rarely a patient might need an early repositioning or an adjustment and that can mean using the same implants. But generally if a patient needed revision surgery new implants will be used.

A:

This is the ‘piece of string’ argument isn’t it? It is known that a proportion of implants will in time develop a leak of the silicone content or they will properly rupture. When that might occur is impossible to predict but as a broad consideration, we would say that about 10% of implants would do this over a 10 year time frame. The main reason implants need to be revised is that capsular contracture (hardening) has occurred and this has caused discomfort or changed the profile of the breast. The other main reasons are simply that the patient chooses to have a different size implant, or the breasts develop sagging and corrective surgery is required. It used to be said that breast implants would not last and should be replaced every 10 years. This is not a normal requirement. They only ‘need’ to be replaced if there is a problem.

A:

Most commonly there are no symptoms relating to silicone implant rupture and the issue is detected when having an investigation for something else, like an ultrasound for a breast lump, or after a mammogram. Capsular contracture is often associated with implant rupture or leakage and sometimes a patient might find a breast lump or a gland in the armpit which is due to silicone from a ruptured implant. With saline implants, they will deflate immediately if they rupture. If there is a slow leak then the implant with slowly deflate.