INTRODUCTION TO BREAST IMPLANT REVISION
A breast revision is a cosmetic surgery procedure that improves the appearance of your breasts by either exchanging existing breast implants or removing them. Traverse City board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. F. Matthew Smith routinely performs breast implant revision procedures, called revision mammoplasty, to recontour and reshape breasts for patients who seek his expertise rather than returning to their original breast implant surgeon.

There are several reasons to seek breast implant revision. Among them are:

1. Dissatisfaction with the appearance of the breasts following an augmentation procedure;
2. Aging, pregnancy or breastfeeding has caused the breasts to sag;
3. A desire to exchange the implants for ones that are larger or smaller, or implants which are saline or silicone;
4. Capsular contracture in which the pocket surrounding the implant has hardened and become painful;
5. A ruptured implant;
6. A desire to no longer have breast implants in place;
7. Asymmetry: the breasts are unequal in size following an augmentation procedure;
8. Placement: the breasts are too close together or too far apart on the chest wall.

The use of silicone gel implants was restricted by the FDA until 2006.  When gel-filled implants were once again approved by the FDA, Dr. Smith performed many procedures for women desiring to switch from saline-filled to the new gel-filled implants. Among Traverse City plastic surgeons, Dr. F. Matthew Smith has earned an excellent reputation in removing and replacing implants.

As with all cosmetic procedures, it is important for Dr. Smith to carefully evaluate your breasts, body frame, and general condition of your skin and muscle tone.  In addition, his understanding of your goals and concerns help in his recommendation of breast implant revision surgery.
This is accomplished during your private consultation at Dr. Smith’s Traverse City plastic surgery office, or in his Gaylord plastic surgery office.

APPROPRIATE CANDIDATES FOR A BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL PROCEDURE
A breast implant removal procedure can be performed on healthy women of any age who have reasonable expectations for improvement of a previous procedure.

HOW A BREAST REVISION PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED
Dr. Smith performs his cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, including breast implant revision surgery at the accredited surgery suite at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Traverse City, or Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord.  A breast revision procedure is typically scheduled for 2-3 hours. General anesthesia is always used as Dr. Smith wants to ensure a well-controlled and safe surgical experience that is comfortable for his patient.

Once general anesthesia has been induced, Dr. Smith will make an incision in the breast area, based upon the previous discussion at your consultation. He will remove the existing breast implant(s) and then either replace them or not, depending upon your preference. It’s important to understand that scar tissue from previous breast enhancement procedure(s) can limit the amount of correction that any surgeon can perform.  Dr. Smith will, however, perform your revision with great skill and attention to insure that the best possible result is obtained. Your incisions are closed with suture that will be removed during a follow-up appointment, usually 10 to 14 days after the surgery. You will be placed in a support garment which you will wear for a period of time 24 hours a day following your procedure.

Within a day or two after surgery, you should be up and around. It’s normal to experience bruising and swelling from breast revision surgery. Discomfort is generally well-controlled with Tylenol, and you may find that sleeping in a chair for the first few nights will prevent rolling over in your sleep onto your still-tender breasts. If Dr. Smith has placed drains in the incisions, these will be removed at one of your post-operative visits in his Traverse City plastic surgery office.

It’s wise to listen to your body and respect the fact that you are healing, as everyone heals at a different rate. Within the first week you can expect that your recovery will follow this general progression: you will be permitted to shower within 48 hours, you will have a follow-up visit, you may return to non-strenuous work and sexual relations may be resumed.