The Importance of Breast Implant Safety and Breast Revision Surgery

Sometimes it is necessary for a woman to undergo breast revision surgery following her breast augmentation. While breast augmentation surgery is known for its high satisfaction rating, there are a variety of medical or aesthetic reasons that can cause a woman to pursue breast revision surgery. Dr. Jane Rowley is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than two decades performing this complex surgery. As an advocate of breast implant safety, she can help you achieve beautiful results using the latest in implant technology.

The Goal of Breast Revision Surgery

Breast revision surgery is specifically intended for patients that already have breast implants, but are not happy with their current condition, look, or feel. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website explains breast revision surgery:

“The goal of breast implant revision surgery is to replace old breast implants with new implants. Often the goal is also to change or improve the appearance of the breasts while updating the implant material, which could include:

• A concurrent breast lift or reduction
• Reshaping the breast implant pocket to reposition the implant on the chest
• Either increasing or decreasing the size, shape or style of the breast implant”

Breast Implant Safety Reasons for a Breast Revision

No surgery comes without risk, breast augmentation included. Post-operative complications can arise that require a breast revision. Before performing any procedure, Dr. Rowley uses the consultation process to educate her patients about potential risks, breast implant safety, and the safety of silicone implants. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website further states:

“The desire to have breast implant revision surgery can be because of any of the following reasons:

• Desire to change the size of the breasts
• Pain from capsular contracture
• Concern about rupture or migration of implant
• Change from saline to silicone or different style of implant

Over time, breast implants can change shape or size, and the overlying breast tissue can also change, creating an appearance or feel to the breast that is less desirable than the original result.”

Safety of Silicone Implants and Implant Rupture

Implant rupture is an important reason to pursue breast revision surgery. While any type of breast implant can develop a hole or tear, implant ruptures vary in severity.

Silicone Gel Breast Implants: Women with silicone gel implants face the inherent risk of experiencing a “silent rupture”, leaving many women to worry about the safety of silicone implants. A “silent rupture” occurs when an implant ruptures but goes undetected for a time, even years. Sticky silicone gel then leaks from the implant and gets trapped in the surrounding tissue. During a breast revision to replace the damaged implant, the silicone gel must be entirely removed and cleaned out. Furthermore, a physical exam alone is not enough to determine if a silicone gel implant has ruptured. An MRI scan is required which is why the FDA recommends all women with silicone gel implants receive an MRI the third year following breast augmentation, then every two years thereafter for the life of their implants.

Saline Breast Implants: When a saline implant ruptures, the implant deflates and a woman can notice the difference right away. A simple look in the mirror is all it takes to detect rupture. The sterile saltwater solution is harmlessly absorbed by the body until the implant is replaced. Many women report this provides an irreplaceable peace of mind about their breast implant safety.

IDEAL IMPLANTS® Structured Breast Implants: This is an innovative breast implant option exclusively available to a select group of board-certified plastic surgeons such as Dr. Rowley. Dr. Rowley was recently named an IDEAL IMPLANT Premier Surgeon for her extensive work with this new, unique kind of breast implant. With no risk of “silent rupture”, their internal structure is designed to address the safety of silicone implants. IDEAL IMPLANTS are made up of a series of shells nested together that hold two separate chambers filled with saline. This means a rupture is easily detected, no MRI is needed, nor will an implant completely deflate until the implant is replaced.

About Capsular Contracture

Another reason for breast revision surgery happens when a woman develops scar tissue around an implant referred to as a capsular contracture. The scar tissue creates several problems including breast pain, hardening of the breast, and an abnormal look to the breast.

A recent study compared the risk of implant rupture and capsular contracture between three brands of silicone gel implants and IDEAL IMPLANTS. The IDEAL IMPLANT showed a substantially lower risk of major complications following primary breast augmentation compared to silicone gel implants.

“The risk of implant rupture or deflation with IDEAL IMPLANT at eight years after primary breast augmentation was only 2.1% in comparison to silicone gel implants from Allergan (7.4%), Mentor (13.6%), and Sientra (7.2%) based on MRI scans …

IDEAL IMPLANT rates of Baker class III/IV capsular contracture at 8 years after primary augmentation were low at 6.6%, compared to silicone gel implants from Allergan (16.2%, 7 yr), Mentor (10.9%, 8 yr), and Sientra (11.2%, 8 yr).”

To learn more about the safety of silicone implants and breast revision surgery, watch this educational video.

Achieve Your Goals!

If you are unhappy with the current condition of your breast implants and think you need a breast revision, contact Dr. Rowley today. She has the skills, training, and expertise needed to correct your breast augmentation results and help you achieve the look you desire. She makes breast implant safety a priority, and will create a customized treatment plan just for you. Call 806-792-3715 or visit https://rowleyplasticsurgery.com.